Talk Justice, an LSC Podcast, Brings Together Business Leaders to Discuss Access-to-Justice Efforts

WASHINGTON – The latest episode of the Legal Services Corporation’s podcast Talk Justice, released today, examines “Why Civil Legal Aid and Access to Justice Are Important to American Business.”

Hosted by LSC President Ronald S. Flagg, the guests include Kenneth C. Frazier, executive chairman, Merck & Co., and co-chair of LSC’s Leaders Council; Teresa Wynn Roseborough, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Home Depot; David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-executive chairman, The Carlyle Group; and John F. Schultz, chief operative, legal officer and executive vice president, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise.

The business leaders kicked off the discussion by describing why they decided to focus on access to justice.

“I think the simple fact of the matter is that corporations are part of the broader fabric of society. We swim in the same seas as everyone else,” said Frazier. He added, “It’s important to me that we create a world in which we have a stable democratic society, and that really implies the rule of law – and equal access is a part of what we mean by the rule of law.” 

Rubenstein pointed to his support of and work with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ initiatives on access to justice.

“In no country in the western world, or in any part of the world, is the legal system as important as it is in the United States,” he said. “The rule of law is one of the greatest virtues we have in this country, and if you can’t really participate in this legal system, then the greatest virtues in this country, to some extent, are not available to you.”

Each panelist also shared the different ways they have tried to connect their work to closing the justice gap and highlighted just how significant a role the business community has in creating access to justice for all.

Talk Justice episodes are available on LSC’s website and on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple and other popular podcast apps. The podcast is sponsored by LSC’s Leaders Council.

Future episodes of Talk Justice will explore how the pandemic has affected the opioid crisis and highlight the work of LSC’s Veterans Task Force.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.