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 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)

Support for Access to Justice Funding in DC (May 23, 2017)

Testimony Before DC Council Committee on the Judiciary on the Expanding Access to Justice Act of 2016 (October 19, 2016)

Letter to D.C. Committee on the Judiciary Supporting Civil Gideon (Court-Appointed Attorneys in Civil Cases) (August 24, 2016)

Letter to Legal Services Corporation re Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request (June 9, 2015)

Letter to Legal Services Corporation Supporting More Funding for Civil Legal Aid (June 2, 2014)

Letter to DC Court of Appeals Supporting Rule Changes to Enable In-House Lawyers To Do Pro Bono Work (May 20, 2014)

Letter Opposing Proposed DC Council Cuts to Legal Services and Loan Repayment Assistance (November 30, 2010)