Research & Data
Access data on civil legal needs and services, learn about LSC’s research initiatives, and explore data tools.
LSC engages in research and data collection projects that aim to understand the state of civil legal needs and services in the U.S. and to build the planning, outreach, and service delivery capacity of its grantees. The Office of Data Governance and Analysis (ODGA) leads in collecting, managing, analyzing, reporting, and visualizing the data.
Download data on poverty and LSC eligibility rates and characteristics of the poverty population.
Census Data for Grantees interactive tool
Tool being redeveloped
Suggestions? Email datateam@lsc.gov
Finding data that can help with identifying legal needs and planning outreach services is not always easy. This tool gives LSC grantees the ability to view, download, and map selected Census data for counties, congressional districts, and other geographic areas relevant to their service area.
Custom Census tables for LSC service areas
LSC receives custom estimates of LSC eligibility and a variety of economic and demographic data for LSC Basic Field General service areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). These custom tables are not available on the Census Bureau's website but are available for download here.
Below are links to some of LSC's initiatives and reports that involve collecting, summarizing, or visualizing data on civil legal needs and services.
By the Numbers
Annual By The Numbers reports provide an overview of the work of LSC-funded legal aid organizations and data reported to LSC in annual Grantee Activity Reports.
Justice Gap Research
LSC's Justice Gap studies measure the gap between the need for civil legal assistance among low-income Americans and the resources available to meet that need.
Civil Court Data Initiative
LSC is collecting records from public court websites on a variety of civil legal issues and is buildings tools to help legal aid providers and other stakeholders make use of the data.
The Effect of State & Local Laws on Evictions
A congressionally-directed study to investigate evictions as a legal process and the scope of unmet legal needs involving eviction at the state and local level.
Legal Needs Monitoring Pilot
LSC partnered with stakeholders in three states to explore using court data and interactive visualizations to monitor legal needs.