The D.C. National Pro Bono Celebration Week  Planning Group has launched the first annual Go CASUAL for JUSTICE Jeans Day. On October 30, lawyers and staff in participating law firms and legal organizations can 'dress down' in return for a $5 donation to the D.C. Bar Foundation. 

The Bar Foundation provides funding to civil legal services organizations in the DC area. In June, the Foundation awarded 1.1 million in IOLTA funds and private contributions to fund legal services across the city. Due to the severe drop in IOLTA revenues, this amount was only half of the funding awarded last year.

As in other areas throughout the country, the economic crisis has hit the D.C. legal services network from both sides: the need for legal help is expanding as economic challenges affect every aspect of the lives of the poor; and at the same time, funding for legal services is shrinking. The Justice Jeans  Day  is envisioned as a new annual support event to address these critical needs.