Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid
2015 is a very important year for civil legal aid. Following "Investing
in Justice," the report of the BBA
Statewide Task Force to Expand Civil Legal Aid in Massachusetts, we now know
more about the justice gap than every before. We know that nearly 2/3 of
eligible individuals are turned away from legal aid services for essential life
necessities such as shelter or protection from an abuser due to lack of
providers. This results in an untold amount of individual hardships and a
glut of pro se litigants, straining the courts and hindering access to
justice. In addition, our society must bear the costs of police, shelter,
and medical services arising as a result.
"Investing
in Justice" demonstrates that funding civil legal aid will result in
substantial cost savings for the Commonwealth. The report calls for a $30
million increase in legal aid funding over the next three years. This
year, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation will be requestiing $25
million for legal services, a $10 million increase over last year's
budget.