Legal Aid for the Poor & the Legal Services Corporation

At a time when poor Americans are struggling to keep their jobs, homes and basic necessities for their families, it is crucial for the federal government to address the civil legal needs of these vulnerable people as a national priority. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, non-profit, federally funded corporation that helps provide legal assistance to low-income people in non-criminal (i.e., civil) matters. The primary responsibility of the LSC is to manage and oversee the congressionally appropriated federal funds that it distributes in the form of grants to local legal service providers, which in turn give legal assistance to low-income clients in all 50 states. This book explores the Legal Services Corporation, its background and funding, and addresses government accountability and weaknesses of the program.