Media – Legal Services Alabama

2025 LSA Annual Report

Legal Services Alabama — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:25:00 +0000

The Legal Services Alabama 2025 Annual Report is here!

Our latest annual report is now available. Explore the impact of our work over the past year, see how we’ve served our community, and learn more about the progress we’ve made together.

The report highlights key accomplishments, client stories, and the partnerships that helped make our mission possible.

Catch up with the milestones we’ve reached and our work that continues to strengthen access to justice across Alabama.

Aging With Dignity: How Legal Services Keep Seniors Safe

Legal Services Alabama — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:26:16 +0000

LSA Director of Advocacy, Michael Forton, joined the Legal Services Corporation Talk Justice podcast for an episode about Elder Law and the role of legal aid in protecting older adults in Alabama.

Last year, LSC-funded legal organizations assisted more than 312,000 Americans age 60 and up with their legal problems. Issues surrounding wills, power of attorney and advance directives are common for aging Americans, and seniors are often targeted for scams and fraud. These legal crises can exacerbate other stressors, such as rising housing costs and medical issues that can undermine seniors’ safety, stability and ability to age in their home with dignity and autonomy.

‘Devastating Effects’: LSA Exec Dir. & LSC President on Life Without Legal Aid in AL

Legal Services Alabama — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:46:05 +0000

The LSC federal budget is facing dramatic cuts to funding, and Alabama’s hard-working residents will bear the brunt of the negative impacts.

By: Guy Lescault, Legal Services Alabama Executive Director and Ron Flagg, Legal Services Corporation President

The Trump Administration’s proposed elimination of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) would have devastating effects on residents across Alabama. Legal Services Alabama (LSA) has been providing critical civil legal assistance to the community for over 20 years, and currently 73% of its funding comes from LSC.

Civil legal problems can be devastating—domestic violence, eviction, fraud, predatory debt collections, lack of access to medical care, loss of income. The civil legal services provided by LSA are essential for many working families who have a legal problem and cannot afford a lawyer. Last year, attorneys at LSA assisted over 12,000 clients with their legal problems.

LSC distributes federal funding to civil legal aid programs in every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia. If Congress does not preserve LSC’s funding in the federal budget, LSA—and 129 other similar programs nationwide—will lose key resources that enable them to effectively serve our communities.

LSC’s funding is essential because it provides flexible operating support—the kind of support that allows LSA to respond in real time to what our community is facing. Whether it’s a flood that displaces dozens of families or a sudden spike in veteran benefit denials, LSC funds give LSA the ability to meet local needs.

For example, LSA’s recent work organizing the Road to Redemption series of legal expungement clinics enhances workforce development and supports increased levels of civic engagement; outreach targeting vulnerable veterans ensures their health and safety. LSA even creates client resources that offer residents ineligible for LSA services the tools to better understand their issue and pursue next steps, expanding LSA’s legal advocacy beyond the organization’s typical staff capacity.

State or local funding will not cover the loss of LSC. These legal aid programs have relied on federal support for half a century. Eliminating LSC would destabilize a strong and vital network of legal aid organizations dedicated to ensuring justice is accessible at all income levels.

For fiscal year 2025, LSC received a congressional appropriation of $560 million. This accounts for 0.035% of the discretionary budget. This relatively small expenditure makes a huge impact on the wellbeing of working Americans.

This is not frivolous government waste—this is an investment in justice for all, and these are our federal tax dollars coming back to serve our communities.

Legal aid also supports a healthy economy. According to LSC’s research, legal aid returns $7 for every $1 invested, on average. By solving or preventing legal problems, programs like LSA help to reduce strain on law enforcement and the courts and prevent costly public spending on emergency medical care and shelters. Funding LSC is not just an investment in justice—it’s an investment in our economy.

Without LSC funding, Legal Services Alabama will lose staff and be forced to shrink its caseload. It may not be able to help people like a recent senior client struggling with utilities complications and a guarantee of her homeownership. She called LSA in a panic after the water company threatened to shut off service due to non-payment—but refused to accept her payment since she wasn’t listed as the property owner. Though she had inherited the home, her name wasn’t on record. She had also been unnecessarily paying property taxes despite being eligible for an exemption for over five years. To resolve the issue, LSA created a partial family tree and affidavits of heirship to get her listed as the owner, secured her tax exemption, and drafted a deed to protect her husband’s interest in the home. She kept her water on, reduced her expenses, and ensured long-term security for her family.

If Congress does not reject the White House’s proposed elimination of LSC, fewer seniors targeted by scams will be able to turn to LSA for help. Fewer veterans will receive LSA’s assistance in attaining their earned benefits. Fewer families will have LSA’s support when they are facing the loss of their homes due to eviction, foreclosure or natural disasters.

The bottom line is this: Alabamians can’t afford to lose LSC.

New Managing Attorney at LSA Selma Office to Continue Legal Advocacy Essential to the Black Belt

Legal Services Alabama — Mon, 12 May 2025 17:44:17 +0000

Selma, AL – Legal Services Alabama (LSA), the state’s only nonprofit provider of free civil legal aid, is proud to announce the appointment of Tracy Kennie as the new Managing Attorney of its Selma office, serving the historic Black Belt region.

Tracy Kennie’s journey with LSA began as a John Lewis Legal Fellow, a role designed to support early-career attorneys committed to economic justice. She then served as a Staff Attorney in LSA’s Huntsville office, where she developed a strong record of advocacy on behalf of low-income Alabamians. With this new appointment, Kennie brings her passion for justice and deep commitment to community-focused legal service to the Selma office.

“Serving in the Black Belt is deeply personal for me because it’s where I grew up,” said Kennie.

“I understand the region—not just geographically, but culturally, historically, and emotionally. I’ve seen how systemic poverty, limited access to justice, and generational inequities have shaped the lives of people here. My commitment to this community isn’t theoretical; it’s rooted in lived experience.”

Kennie’s growth at LSA demonstrates an organizational commitment to investing in the development of LSA staff to promote long-term success.

“The journey from Fellow to Staff Attorney and now Managing Attorney has been both challenging and empowering,” said Kennie.

“As a John Lewis Fellow, I was immersed in the mission of LSA. I learned how to build trust with clients, navigate complex legal systems, and adapt to the fast-paced demands of legal aid. That experience laid the foundation for my growth—not just as a litigator, but as a leader.”

The Selma office plays a vital role in LSA’s statewide network, serving a region characterized by persistent poverty, rural isolation, and historically limited access to legal resources. LSA’s continued presence in the area is essential to ensuring that residents can access justice, particularly in matters involving housing, public benefits, family law, and consumer issues.

“LSA is fortunate to have someone like Tracie Kennie who has the requisite management capacity and knowledge of the Black Blet to serve in the vital position of the Managing Attorney of our Selma Office,” said Guy Lescault, Executive Director of LSA.

With eight offices across the state, LSA remains committed to breaking down barriers to justice for Alabama’s most vulnerable populations. Under Kennie’s leadership, the Selma office will continue to be a cornerstone of that effort. The Selma Office service area includes Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry, Sumter, and Wilcox Counties.

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Legal Services Alabama is a nonprofit law firm that provides free, civil legal assistance to low-income residents across all 67 counties in Alabama. LSA’s services aim to protect and advance the rights of clients facing critical legal issues related to housing, domestic violence, public benefits, and more.

Equity Spotlight: Advocacy Interview with Justice in Aging

Legal Services Alabama — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:18:31 +0000

Legal Services Alabama Director of Advocacy, Michael Forton, joined Justice in Aging for their “Spotlighting Equity” video series.

Listen to his interview to learn more about elder law strategies in Alabama and the work LSA is doing to uplift and empower our older clients across the state.