Pro Bono News

Federal leaders need to know how costly it would be to cut legal aid

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Federal leaders need to know how costly it would be to cut legal aid

 

"IN HIS June 5 op-ed, “Legal Services Corp. ensures equal justice for all,” Ralph Gants, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, correctly argues that eliminating the Legal Services Corporation, which remains on the Trump administration’s federal budget chopping block despite strong advocacy from our state’s delegation, would have dire consequences for our nation’s most vulnerable people, including at-risk children, victims of domestic violence, and veterans. It would also have negative consequences for our nation’s bottom line.

Simply put, investing in civil legal aid programs pays dividends by avoiding back-end costs. The Boston Bar Association’s report “Investing in Justice” showed that taking a preventive approach to legal issues would help families, save government funds, and ensure fairness in our justice system."

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