The Future of Civil Legal Aid in the United States


 

Publication Date: November 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Alan W. Houseman

Research Area: Justice

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Despite a decade of improvements and transformations in the civil legal aid system, much remains to be done to ensure that all low-income people have access to a system that effectively addresses their legal needs.

This paper offers a brief history of civil legal aid, the current status of the system, and options and challenges for the future—chiefly, how to ensure significant increases in funding for civil legal aid, and how to develop effective state justice systems across the country.