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Private Attorney Involvement

PAI Requirement
All 137 LSC-funded programs are required to spend 12.5 percent of their LSC grant to involve private attorneys in the delivery of civil legal assistance to eligible clients, including, for example, recruiting and training private attorneys and to screen and refer cases to them.

In 2008, private attorneys handled nearly 93,000 cases for LSC-funded programs - about 10 percent of all cases closed by programs. While private attorney involvement is an important element of the strategy to close the justice gap, all agree that private attorneys alone cannot close the justice gap.

Board of Directors PAI Resolution
The LSC Board of Directors has taken a leadership role and is using LSC's national voice to encourage a culture of private attorney involvement as an effective tool for providing legal services to more persons in need. In 2007, the Board adopted a resolution in support of enhanced private attorney involvement with LSC-funded programs, which has served as a model for LSC programs in adopting similar resolutions tailored to their local needs and circumstances. To date, 107 programs have adopted PAI resolutions. Urging programs to adopt local resolutions is a key element of LSC's private attorney involvement action plan, entitled "Help Close the Justice Gap, Unleash the Power of Pro Bono."

Program Letter 
In addition, in December 2007, LSC issued a Program Letter to all LSC grantees with guidance on how they might enhance their private attorney initiatives through best practices and innovative techniques developed by some LSC grantees.
 
LSC PAI Advisory Field Group
LSC has convened a private attorney involvement advisory group that includes members from LSC-funded programs to share their knowledge and experience in private attorney involvement and pro bono services. LSC has worked collaboratively with other advisory groups and believes this is an excellent format for obtaining the expertise of our programs in ways that can then be widely shared with all LSC grantees.

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