In response to the report of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Pro Bono Task Force (PBTF), LSC has scheduled rulemaking workshops in Denver, Colo. (July 23, 2013), and in Washington, DC (Sept. 17, 2013).  LSC will select workshop panelists from among the expressions of interest received by the published deadlines.

Recommendation 2 of the PBTF addresses LSC’s Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) regulation, 45 CFR part 1614, which requires grantees to expend an amount equivalent to 12.5 percent of their basic field grants to encourage the involvement of private attorneys in the delivery of legal assistance to eligible clients.

These workshops will involve an open discussion among LSC, panelists, and public participants regarding the three topics identified by the PBTF for possible revisions to the PAI regulation.  The topics and items for discussion appear in the Federal Register Notice at https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-11071.

Deadlines for Comments and Expressions of Interest in Participating as a Panelist:

Individuals applying to participate as panelists must submit their expressions of interest by:

• 5:30 p.m. EDT on June 25 for the first workshop, and
• 5:30 p.m. EDT August 20 for the second workshop. 

Those deadlines also apply for written comments submitted for consideration at each workshop regarding the PAI regulation or the topics for discussion.

Any other comments regarding revisions to the PAI rule must be received by 5:30 p.m. EDT on October 17, 2013.

Advanced Registration for Public Participation:

Individuals who are not panelists may speak in the public comment period of a workshop. LSC requests that interested individuals register 14 days before the relevant workshops according to the instructions on the LSC website.

Contact information, and additional details and materials, are available on the LSC website at http://www.lsc.gov/about/regulations-rules/open-rulemaking/information-rulemaking-workshops-re-lscs-private-attorney.