Title
Title
Equal Access Fund | Distribution of Funds for Partnership Grants and IOLTA-Formula Grants (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Budget Act of 2020 includes over $23 million in the Equal Access Fund for general distribution to legal services providers and support centers. The funds are to be distributed primarily in two parts: IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts)-formula grants and partnership grants (with a small amount also distributed for administration). The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the State Bar recommends approving distribution of $21,169,328 in IOLTA-formula grants for fiscal year (FY) 2020-21, according to the statutory formula in the state Budget Act, and $2,423,410 in partnership grants for 2021. The commission further requests approval of its findings that the proposed budget for each individual grant complies with statutory and other relevant guidelines.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission recommends that the Judicial Council, effective September 25, 2020, approve:
1. The distribution of $21,169,328 in IOLTA-formula grants for FY 2020-21 according to the terms of the state Budget Act;
2. The commission’s determination that the proposed budget of each individual grant complies with statutory and other guidelines; and
3. The distribution of $2,423,410 in Equal Access Fund partnership grants to the following legal services agencies for programs conducted jointly with courts to provide legal assistance to self-represented litigants:
a. Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Self-Help Elder and Dependent Adult Restraining Order Clinic
(Los Angeles County) ............................................................................................$78,491
b. Central California Legal Services, Inc.
Guardianship Project ..............................................................................................$58,868
Tenant/Landlord Housing Law Project (Fresno) .....................................................$68,680
Tulare County Unlawful Detainer Workshop ........................................................$68,680
c. Community Legal Aid SoCal
Orange County Community Court Clinic ..............................................................$34,340
Orange County Consumer Debt Workshop .............................................................$22,566
Unlawful Detainer Workshop at Norwalk Courthouse (Los Angeles) ..................$68,680
d. Elder Law and Advocacy
Imperial County Unlawful Detainer/Elder Abuse Restraining Order Clinic ...........$69,661
e. Family Violence Law Center
Domestic Violence Pro Per Project (Alameda) .......................................................$24,528
f. Housing and Economic Rights Advocates
Probate Clinic (San Mateo) ....................................................................................$41,208
g. Inland Counties Legal Services
Consumer Clinic Partnership (San Bernardino)…………………………………...$92,227
h. Justice and Diversity Center
Family Law Assisted Self-Help/Case Resolution (FLASH/CARE) Project (San Francisco) ..............................................................................................................$39,246
Shriver-SASH Self-Help Custody (San Francisco) .................................................$72,604
i. LACBA (Los Angeles County Bar Association) Counsel for Justice
Domestic Violence Legal Services Project (Los Angeles) ....................................$89,284
j. Legal Access Alameda
Alameda County Family Law Day of Court Project ...............................................$29,434
Family Law Status Conference Project.....................................................................$63,774
k. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Torrance Self-Help Center .......................................................................................$88,302
l. Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara
Legal Resource Center Partnership (Lompoc and Santa Barbara) ......................$114,793
m. Legal Aid of Marin
Community Court Expansion ................................................................................$78,491
n. Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
Caregivers Accessing Justice Guardianship Program...............................................$98,114
o. Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc.
Name & Gender Marker Change Clinic ................................................................$83,397
Unlawful Detainer Clinic Expansion Project ...........................................................$78,491
p. Legal Assistance for Seniors
Partnership to Assist Guardianship Litigants (Alameda) .........................................$63,774
Partnership to Assist Limited Conservatorship Litigants (Alameda) ....................$63,774
q. Legal Services of Northern California
Mother Lode Pro Per Project (Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada & Sierra) .......................................................................................$93,208
Small Claims & Guardianship Self-Help Project (Yolo) .........................................$60,831
r. Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Consumer Technology Project .................................................................................$88,302
Housing Cases Continuum of Services ..................................................................$79,472
Stabilizing Families .................................................................................................$98,114
s. Public Counsel
Guardianship Clinic (Los Angeles) .........................................................................$29,434
t. Public Law Center
De Facto and Adoptive Parent Assistance Project ...................................................$49,057
Orange County Courthouse Guardianship Clinic ..................................................$39,245
u. Riverside Legal Aid
Small Estates Assistance Program ...........................................................................$98,114
v. San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program
Central Division Restraining Order Clinic ............................................................$98,114
w. San Luis Obispo Legal Aid Foundation
Rental Clinic ......................................................................................$98,114
Total $2,423,410