Massachusetts IOLTA Committee’s Post

Funds from the Massachusetts IOLTA Committee make a significant difference in the lives of real people and in our communities by supporting legal help for people across the Commonwealth who cannot afford an attorney. In partnership with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and the Boston Bar Foundation of the Boston Bar Association, IOLTA grants increase the capacity of legal aid organizations to offer critical assistance to those who have few resources to address civil legal issues, including domestic violence, housing, immigration status, child advocacy, family law, discrimination, and health care. Learn more about the IOLTA program and where that money goes: http://ow.ly/Trtq50Jzpg5 #LegalAidChangesLives #JusticeForAll

Access to Justice: Bridging the Gap for Underserved Communities" Lawyers must address systemic barriers to justice. Pro bono work, legal aid, and community outreach are crucial. Key Initiatives: Pro bono programs Legal aid organizations Community clinics Impact: Increased access to justice Empowered communities Reduced inequality #AccessToJustice #ProBono #LegalAid #CommunityOutreach

Thanks go to Micaela Cronin, Commissioner for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. Today she released the inaugural Yearly Report to Parliament on the Progress of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. This speaks to both transparency and a desire to do more. In our work at Victoria Legal Aid and National Legal Aid we see the gendered nature of family violence and financial insecurity that many women experience, particularly during separation. In fact, 86% of all Legal Aid Family Law matters have a risk of domestic and family violence. Speaking at the National Press Club, Ms Cronin acknowledged the pressure services are under from increasing demand and the need for more early intervention and prevention. The under funding of family law legal assistance over time, combined with an increase in demand and the unacceptability of domestic and family violence, has led to a crisis. A properly funded National Legal Assistance Partnership would assist in addressing this, including the actions we need to improve the safety of women and children. Katherine McKernan Monique Hitter Joanna Fletcher Eila Pourasgheri Sharika Jeyakumar Rowan McRae Kate Bundrock Peter Noble Cam Hume Louisa Gibbs Lynne Haultain #nlap #familyviolence #familylaw #endviolenceagainstwomen #legalassistance #nationallegalassistance

As we approach the end of 2024, we want to reflect on the current state of legal aid in Scotland and why continued support is vital. This year highlighted many challenges: A 24% decline in solicitors registered for children’s legal aid since 2020, leaving vulnerable children at risk. Entire regions, like Kirkwall and Lochmaddy, without legal aid solicitors, creating gaps in access to justice. Practitioners nearing retirement, with a third expected to leave the profession in the next decade, and fewer younger lawyers stepping into the field. Despite these challenges, the resilience and advocacy shown by legal professionals, organisations, and communities have been inspiring. Legal aid is more than a service; it’s a commitment to fairness, equality, and justice. Click here to show your support: https://bit.ly/4g76WpM #LegalAidMatters #LawSocietyScotland #EqualAccess #SupportLegalAid

Circle Green supports the "Save Community Legal Centres: End the Funding Crisis" campaign. Access to Justice is an important part of protecting core principles of our democracy. However, for an increasing number of people, access to justice is not affordable leading to unfair and unjust outcomes. Community Legal Centres play a critical role in supporting access to justice however funding is insufficient with over 1,000 people turned away from centres each day. Last year Circle Green experienced a significant increase in demand across all our legal support services, and recorded 9,517 turnaways across our humanitarian, tenancy and workplace law areas. The crisis will only worsen until the sector secures a guarantee of ongoing funding. Read more and add your endorsement here: https://ow.ly/XMCU50T2GnT #SaveCommunityLegalCentres #FundFrontlineServices #CommunityLaw

Ahead of #NationalHousingDay on November 22: As encampments are subject to an increasing number of legal challenges, this new expert report by Professors Alexandra Flynn, Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark and Estair Van Wagner explores where the law stands.    It informs legal practitioners and advocates of #jurisprudence in Canada, what the legal obligations are for governments when it comes to homeless encampments, and it points to opportunities for future legal advocacy ➡️ https://bit.ly/3OjFJ7i  

I had the pleasure of doing some work on the French version of this report, and I can say that it should be of interest to anyone working with people experiencing homelessness, not just legal professionals. The legal landscape around the use of public space by people experiencing unsheltered homelessness has changed rapidly in recent years, and we are not always aware of the rights that people living in parks or other spaces have. To adopt a rights-based approach, we first need to understand what those rights are, and this paper is a good starting point.

📢 Media Release: Historic $3.9 Billion National Access to Justice Partnership Announced Today, at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting in Melbourne, a transformative agreement was reached to implement the new $3.9 billion National Access to Justice Partnership (NAJP). This landmark initiative delivers an $800 million increase in funding over five years (2025-26 onward) to strengthen the legal assistance sector and support the most vulnerable members of our community. 💡 Key Highlights of the NAJP: The largest Commonwealth investment in legal assistance to date. Increased funding to improve frontline services for those facing family, domestic, and sexual violence. 📊 Breakdown of Funding Increases: 1️⃣ $833 million for Community Legal Centres and Women’s Legal Services 74% increase (+$354 million). $558 million for Community Legal Centres. $276 million for Women’s Legal Services. 2️⃣ $367 million for Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services 112% increase (+$193 million). 3️⃣ $838 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services 64% increase (+$326 million). 4️⃣ $1.785 billion for Legal Aid Commissions 24% increase (+$342 million). This funding boost reflects a strong commitment to ensuring equitable access to justice for all Australians. By bolstering legal services, the NAJP will empower frontline organizations to better serve their communities, providing essential support to those who need it most. This is a monumental step toward a fairer, more accessible justice system. 💙 #AccessToJustice #LegalAssistance #CommunitySupport #JusticeMatters

We have just sent in our 2025-26 pre-budget submission. Read: https://lnkd.in/g_iz8YSn Community legal centres help hundreds of thousands of people every year to resolve everyday legal problems, but our sector is significantly under-funded to meet need. The September 2024 Commonwealth announcement of funding security beyond 30 June 2025 and of an uplift in funding has provided a brief reprieve, but it is not enough. Our sector needs additional investment under the National Access to Justice partnership. There are several further specific issues in need of urgent attention in the 2025-26 budget, for which we make targeted funding proposals. #CommunityLaw #FundEqualJustice #SaveCommunityLegalCentres

Our legal aid providers goes the extra mile to ensure there is access to justice for the indigent, marginalized and vulnerable persons. The mission is protect the rights of vulnerable individuals like women, children and elderly persons who might otherwise be exploited or unfairly treated. The legal aid providers contribute to social stability by resolving conflicts through accessible and affordable legal means. Your financial status is not a barrier to accessing our services. When you come to #NLAS, you will meet our legal aid providers who are champions of justice and equality, playing an indispensable role in promoting the rule of law and access to justice. #NLAS #LegalAid #AccessToJustice