State Bar Releases First Report on Statewide Impact of California Legal Aid Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Categories: News Releases The State Bar of California has released its first statewide report highlighting the impact that California legal aid providers have had for individuals and communities living in poverty. The report: Making a Difference: California Legal Aid, highlights outcomes achieved by the 95 nonprofit legal services providers who received grants from the State Bar in 2017. “Increasing access to the legal system is core to our mission, and we are proud to support the dedicated, life-changing work of the legal aid community, not only with grant dollars, but with collaborative efforts such as this groundbreaking report,” said Leah T. Wilson, Executive Director of the State Bar of California. “Legal aid serves millions of Californians, improves communities, and provides economic benefits to the state that we are only beginning to measure.” The State Bar awarded over $37 million in legal aid grants in 2017. The report focuses broadly on outcomes achieved in 2017 by these grantees in serving low-income Californians, regardless of source of funding, including their State Bar grant as well as other private and public funds. The report spotlights outcomes and client stories about legal aid in the areas of health, domestic violence, housing and homelessness, justice in the workplace, immigration and immigrant rights, consumer protection, seniors, children, people with disabilities, veterans, and disaster response. Among the impacts highlighted in the report: 4,895 families helped to stay in their homes; 4,874 restraining orders issued to protect domestic violence survivors; 10,672 clients assisted with consumer protection or financial abuse; $134 million recovered and $43.3 million saved for clients; $114.5 million in pro bono services provided; and Services provided in over 40 languages. By providing free legal assistance to low-income Californians, legal aid providers meet basic needs like food, shelter, and safety, help individuals in crisis, address systemic inequities, and revitalize communities. Legal aid intervention can help keep a family intact and in their home, help an individual remain employed or in school, and improve health outcomes. While spotlighting legal aid’s impact, the report also highlights the huge unmet need for legal aid in California. The State Bar recently launched the first-ever statewide study of the California Justice Gap. The year-long study will seek to measure the unmet need for civil legal assistance in California. Fact Sheet: California Justice Gap Study. Follow the State Bar online Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn ### The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system. Previous Article Next Article