Access to Justice & Funding for Civil Legal Services

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Since its founding in 1971, Washington Council of Lawyers has been the only voluntary bar association in the District of Columbia solely dedicated to promoting pro bono and public-interest law. In support of our mission, we have maintained a consistent and significant focus on support for access to justice and funding for civil legal services. Recent advocacy on access to justice and funding for civil legal services includes the following:

Testimony before the D.C. Council Committee on Housing and Executive Administration FY 2023 Funding for the Executive Office of the Mayor (April 7, 2022)

Testimony to the D.C. Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on FY23 Public Funding for The Access to Justice Initiative (April 6, 2022)

Testimony to the D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety re: Performance Oversight (January 27, 2021)

Testimony to the D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety re: B24-0298 Pro Bono Legal Representation Expansion Amendment Act of 2021 (October 27, 2021)

Letter of Support for the Neighborhood Legal Services Program’s TIG Application for Funding for a Coordinated Intake and Referral System for the District of Columbia (August 3, 2021)

Testimony to the D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety re: FY22 Public Funding for Access to Justice Initiatives (June 11, 2021)

Testimony to the D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety re: Performance Oversight (March 4, 2021)

Testimony to the D.C. Council Committee of the Whole re: FY 2021 (June 16, 2020)

Testimony to the D.C. Council Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety re: FY 2021 (June 15, 2020)

Letter to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser re: FY 2021 Access to Justice Initiative Funding (May 4, 2020)

Testimony Before DC Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on FY 2020 Public Funding for Access to Justice Initiatives and Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (April 4, 2019)

Testimony Before DC Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on FY 2019 Public Funding for Access to Justice Initiatives and Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (April 13, 2018)