September 13, 2011
About the Campaign
What is the Campaign for Justice?
The Campaign for Justice is about increasing funding for the important network of legal aid organizations that give a voice and representation to Californians who need help accessing justice. These nonprofit legal aid organizations collectively provide services in all 58 California counties, and all provide or support free civil legal aid to indigent Californians, as defined by statute. The Campaign was created by a network of legal aid organizations, private lawyers, the Office of Legal Services of the State Bar of California and the Legal Aid Association of California, united in a mission to spread awareness about the importance of legal aid and of increasing resources available to meet the needs of indigent Californians.
The Campaign consists of four key components: educating key policymakers about the importance of legal aid, encouraging banks to maximize interest rates and waive fees on IOLTA accounts to preserve this source of legal aid funding, increasing individual contributions to the Justice Gap Fund, and encouraging pro bono services to leverage legal aid resources. In short, the Campaign for Justice is about ensuring that all Californians can get the legal help they need when they have nowhere else to turn.
How the Campaign for Justice Started.
Currently, the State Bar of California administers three main sources of funding for legal aid in California: Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA); Equal Access Funds; and contributions to the Justice Gap Fund through voluntary attorney donations. Unfortunately, with the economic recession, IOLTA revenue, a primary source of funding for legal aid in California, has decreased dramatically (from $22.7 million in 2008 to less than $7.1 million in each of the successive years) resulting in unavoidable cuts to legal aid for indigent Californians. Currently, less than 6 percent of lawyers contribute the suggested $100 to the Justice Gap Fund, which therefore yields less than a million dollars in annual revenue.
In September 2010, California legal aid organizations gathered for a statewide meeting to address the funding crisis. At that meeting, organizations committed to a Campaign for Justice, modeled after similar campaigns in other states, to raise funds for California legal services. Brand-Culture Company, a Los Angeles-based strategic branding company, donated their talents to develop a set of key messages and a visual identity for the campaign. The campaign officially launched with Campaign for Justice Month in October 2011.
Why the Campaign for Justice Matters.
Legal help is needed now more than ever in these troubled economic times. While the safety net is shrinking, California’s most vulnerable residents are facing housing crises, job losses, domestic violence, elder abuse, and obstacles to health care and education. When justice is available to those who need it, society benefits from increased family stability, safer communities, and a stronger workforce.
Yet, research shows that most people do not really know what legal aid does, or how important legal aid is in making a difference in people’s lives. This Campaign seeks to change that, first by creating awareness, and second by increasing funding. When you support the Campaign for Justice, you support critical access to healthcare, safety, food, education and shelter.
How the Campaign for Justice Works.
The Campaign for Justice supports each of the 95 nonprofit legal aid organizations throughout California that provide critical legal services benefiting hundreds of thousands of individuals every year. These organizations form broad and creative partnerships to effectively leverage resources and expand critical legal services. But, in this era of reduced resources and increased need, legal aid needs your help to support the many Californians who have lost their homes, their jobs, and their healthcare.
The Campaign seeks to promote awareness of the importance of legal aid and to support additional funding for established legal aid programs. If you already give to legal aid – either your time or money – we urge you to continue to do so. If you already know about the important work of legal aid, we ask you to join the Campaign to educate others. If you do not already support legal aid, now is the time to do so. Donate or take action to support critical legal aid services in California.