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Legal Aid Needs Our Help
Never before in my professional lifetime have so many of our fellow citizens been in such dire financial straits. Individuals living in poverty need food, shelter, health care, clothing and safety for their children, and they often need legal assistance to secure those necessities of life. Lawyers in private practice do what they can, but the first line of help is provided by Legal Aid.
Legal Services of South Central Michigan (“LSSCM”) has provided free civil legal services to our most vulnerable citizens for more than 45 years. Last year, LSSCM attorneys and pro bono attorneys provided advice and/or representation to over 2,800 low income residents of Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Barry, Livingston and Shiawassee counties. Legal Aid prioritizes urgent and critical cases that keep families safe, preserve their homes from illegal evictions or foreclosures, and maintain economic stability. Unfortunately, LSSCM staff members and volunteer attorneys are not able to provide representation to everyone who qualifies and needs assistance.
Friends of Legal Aid (FOLA) was formed in 2007 to help LSSCM’s Lansing office raise funds. FOLA is an informal association of approximately 60 lawyers and judges who support the fundraising efforts for LSSCM’s Lansing office. Lee Reimann, Mary Kay Scullion and I participate on the FOLA Steering Committee with legal aid staff. LSSCM’s FOLA campaign participates in the Access to Justice Campaign to increase resources for civil legal aid to the poor in Michigan. The ATJ Campaign is a partnership of the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan State Bar Foundation and Michigan's civil legal aid programs. I personally donate to the Access to Justice Campaign and designate my donation to LSSCM. There are several legal communities in Michigan that have provided significant support to their local legal aid office. I agreed to join the Friends of Legal Aid Steering Committee, because I believe that together we can make a significant difference for our local legal aid office.
Our pro bono and/or financial support has two benefits for the local office – it helps them provide more services and it also helps leverage other funding. When legal aid requests grants, they are often asked what support they receive from the legal community. The question seems fair and reasonable. If lawyers do not believe in the importance of legal aid, how can we expect others to understand the importance?
FOLA will be sending out year end letters again this year requesting a donation to support LSSCM through the Access to Justice Campaign. Based on the State Bar of Michigan Voluntary Pro Bono Standard, the suggested donation is $300 per lawyer or 30 hours of pro bono service. For more information about LSSCM, pro bono opportunities or to make a donation, you may visit our website at www.lsscm.org. If you have questions about LSSCM’s Lansing office, please contact Lori Pourzan at 517.394.2985. If you have questions about the FOLA campaign, please contact Jennifer Schrand Bentley at 734.665.6181.
I hope that you will join me in supporting LSSCM through the Access to Justice Campaign and contribute as generously as you are able.