Legal Services Alabama (LSA) was honored to welcome Ron Flagg, President of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), to its June Board of Directors meeting. Flagg met with LSA leadership to discuss the impact of anticipated federal funding cuts to the LSC budget and strategies to preserve access to vital civil legal services for hard-working individuals and families across Alabama.

As the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, LSC plays a critical role in supporting LSA’s mission to ensure equal access to justice for all Alabamians, regardless of income. Potential reductions to the LSC budget pose significant challenges to LSA’s ability to continue providing services in areas such as housing, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law and veterans’ support.

According to LSA Executive Director, Guy Lescault, “LSA is fortunate to have the commitment of LSC to help ensure that Alabamians continue to have access to justice.”

President Flagg spoke with LSA board members and leaders about the need for innovative solutions to meet the growing need for civil legal assistance in underserved communities should LSA lose LSC funding.

LSA is 73 percent reliant on LSC funds to maintain daily operations. While grants supplement funding for specific service areas, these awards are not robust enough to replace the funding provided by LSC.

48 states in the U.S. allocate state funding to civil legal aid—Alabama does not. This leaves LSA especially vulnerable in the face of budget cuts.

Cuts to LSC funding will result in staff layoffs and substantial budget cutbacks at Legal Services Alabama, further shrinking an already limited staff capacity. If the current administration chooses to fully defund LSC it will result in the defunding of LSA, creating heightened barriers to access to justice experienced by our residents with limited means.