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ACCESS TO JUSTICE REPORT JANUARY 2021

To: LSBA Board of Governors
From: Monte Mollere, ATJ Director

This memo highlights information on the programs and initiatives of the LSBA’s Access to
Justice Commission, Committee and Department that may be of interest or relevance to the
LSBA Board of Governors. Only activities occurring since the last board meeting are
included in this report. Should you have any questions or require additional background on
any item, I am happy to provide additional information.

ATJ Commission

Justice For All Grant work results in Commission adopted strategic plan and
opportunity for $100,000 supplemental implementation grant to address “Civil Legal Aid
Deserts.”
The Louisiana Access to Justice Commission was one of three state commissions to be
awarded the Justice for All (JFA) project, funded by the JPB Foundation, in 2019. JFA is a
project of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) designed to support states reaching
100% meaningful access to justice through a three-phase process: 1) inventory assessment, 2)
gap analysis, and 3) strategic planning. An advisory committee, representing a broad range of
industries, state agencies, and organizations, helped carry out the phases of the project and
presented a strategic planning report to the ATJ Commission. The report includes information
developed through GIS mapping that shows Louisiana Civil Legal Aid Deserts. The ATJ
Commission approved application of a $100,000 implementation grant which will be designed
to target areas with significant rates of poverty, limited access to broadband, and long drive
times to legal aid offices. Funding from the first phase of the project is being used to develop
a communications plan to support efforts for the implementation phase. For more information
about this project and the implementation phase contact Amy Duncan (amy.duncan@lsba.org).

Funding Committee continues efforts to obtain ongoing state appropriation.
Chris Ralston, Chair
The Funding Committee continues to discuss and coordinate a statewide plan to investigate
diversified mechanisms available to increase civil legal aid funding, including collaborative
grant efforts, changes to LA RS 13:1000, and a state appropriation. In preparation for the 2021
legislative session, committee members met with Commissioner Jay Dardenne about the need
for civil legal aid funding and the positive impact civil legal aid provides our communities. In
addition, a $1,000,000 request was submitted in the annual NGO application form. Louisiana
Appleseed continues to coordinate lobbying efforts for this civil legal aid legislative initiative.