Outcomes

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:30:48 +0000

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic sierra-chacona… Fri, 12/13/2024 - 13:30

In this infographic, learn what types of research data ��è��Ƶ grantees use to incorporate into their legal needs assessments.

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

Grantees will learn about the different types of research ��è��Ƶ grantees compile to complement their direct community research strategies, including:

1. Court data,

2. Literature reviews, and

3. Community reports.

Read how Legal Aid Chicago, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Montana Legal Services Association incorporated diverse research and data analyses to inform their comprehensive legal needs assessments.

View Infographic

“By examining various research methodologies, ��è��Ƶ grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery."

Excerpt from the infographic

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Data Outcomes Strategic Planning

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:29:11 +0000

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments sierra-chacona… Mon, 11/25/2024 - 11:29

In this infographic, learn what types of research data ��è��Ƶ grantees use to incorporate into their legal needs assessments.

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

Grantees will learn about the different types of research ��è��Ƶ grantees compile to complement their direct community research strategies, including:

Court data,
Literature reviews, and
Community reports.

Read how Legal Aid Chicago, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Montana Legal Services Association incorporated diverse research and data analyses to inform their comprehensive legal needs assessments.

Read the Infographic

"By examining various research methodologies, ��è��Ƶ grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery.”

Excerpt from the Infographic

More on Strategic Planning 

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Data Outcomes Strategic Planning

Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: Zoning In on Housing Justice

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:18:14 +0000

Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: Zoning In on Housing Justice sierra-chacona… Thu, 09/12/2024 - 12:18

In this project brief, learn how the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia leveraged Housing Justice Program Fellows to provide focused legal assistance to housing communities in southeastern Virginia.

Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: Zoning In on Housing Justice

Grantees will learn how the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (LASEV):

1.    Identified neighborhoods with the highest rates of eviction filings;
2.    Prioritized direct community connections to build trust with residents in these neighborhoods; and
3.    Advocated to improve living conditions and reduce evictions.

Hear from LASEV Deputy Director of Litigation Sarah Black and Housing Justice Fellow Brandon Ballard on how they increased trust in LASEV, preserved valuable housing subsidies, and improved rent repayment plans.

Read Project Brief

“By participating as a host site for [the Housing Justice Program], LASEV was able to focus much-needed time and effort on addressing the most pressing issues facing residents."

Excerpt from the Project Brief

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Data Outcomes Housing / Evictions

Idaho

A Culture of Systems Change

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:17:08 +0000

A Culture of Systems Change sierra-chacona… Tue, 08/27/2024 - 12:17

Learn about Legal Services NYC's litigation process and considerations for identifying potential impact litigation cases in this infographic.

Legal Services NYC’s Impact Advocacy: A Culture of Systems Change

Grantees will learn how Legal Services NYC (LSNYC):

1. Maximized resources to achieve the greatest possible benefits and systemic solutions;

2. Partnered in and out of the court systems to achieve the best possible outcome; and

3. Coordinated impact advocacy across five programs.

Discover how ��è��ƵNYC outlined the program’s litigation process and the factors to consider when identifying potential impact litigation cases.

Read Infographic

“LSNYC understands that potential impact litigation cases can come from any practice area, as well as outside the organization.”

Christine Clarke

Chief of Litigation and Advocacy, Legal Services NYC

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Leading and Managing an Organization Outcomes Strategic Planning

New York

Neighborhood Advocacy Program

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:38:34 +0000

Neighborhood Advocacy Program sierra-chacona… Tue, 08/20/2024 - 11:38

Learn how the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's neighborhood Advocacy Program helps prevent property vacancy abandonment and promotes neighborhood redevelopment in this project brief.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Neighborhood Advocacy Program

Grantees will learn how Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM):

1. Recruited and formalized partnerships between St. Louis-area law firms and place-based community organizations;

2. Reduce neighborhood property vacancy by organizing private investments; and

3. Preserved homeownership through title clearance and estate planning.

Learn about how LSEM used the Pro Bono Innovation Fund to expand a neighborhood-based pro bono project to prevent property abandonment and promote the redevelopment of long-abandoned properties.

Read the Project Brief

"Neighborhood Advocacy’s significant accomplishment was its ability to quickly create and implement a trusted, well-respected, neighborhood-based pro bono project in an area with no pre-existing legal support system.”

Excerpt from the Project Brief

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Outcomes Housing / Evictions Grant Program Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF)

Missouri

From Courtroom to Community: How Legal Services NYC Uses Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:36:32 +0000

From Courtroom to Community: How Legal Services NYC Uses Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice sierra-chacona… Wed, 07/31/2024 - 14:36

Learn about Legal Services NYC's tips, tricks, and strategies for conducting impact advocacy in this case study.

From Courtroom to Community: How Legal Services NYC Uses Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice

Grantees will learn how Legal Services NYC (LSNYC):

1. Conducted impact advocacy through strategic litigation;

2. Allocated resources and support for high-impact cases; and

3. Managed the team structure and pro bono partnerships.

Hear from Christine Clarke, Chief of Litigation and Advocacy at LSNYC, about key takeaways and lessons learned from some of the organization’s most impactful casework over the years.

View Case Study

“An important aspect of conducting sustainable impact work is shifting organizational culture to see legal aid work not just as solving the same problem a thousand times, but as addressing inequality on a systemic level.”

Christine Clarke

Chief of Litigation and Advocacy, Legal Services NYC

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Intake Leading and Managing an Organization Outcomes Strategic Planning

New York

Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:25:54 +0000

Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation sierra-chacona… Wed, 07/03/2024 - 11:25

Learn Colorado Legal Services’ tips, tricks, and strategies for conducting impact advocacy through strategic litigation, handling related cases, and filing amicus briefs.

Colorado Legal Services: Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

Grantees will learn how Colorado Legal Services (CLS):

1. Conducted impact advocacy through strategic litigation;

2. Handled high volumes of impactful cases; and

3. Filed amicus briefs to advocate for expanding civil protections.

Hear from Matt Baca, Executive Director of CLS, about key takeaways and lessons learned from some of the organization’s most impactful casework over the years.

View Case Study

“Day-to-day legal aid cases do not always make headlines, but they still provide clients with peace of mind, justice, and dignity in the most dire moments of their lives.”

Matt Baca

Executive Director, Colorado Legal Services

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Intake Leading and Managing an Organization Outcomes Strategic Planning

Colorado

Technology Initiative Grant Awards: TIG Projects Funded by Year

admin — Mon, 17 May 2021 20:27:17 +0000

Technology Initiative Grant Awards: TIG Projects Funded by Year admin Mon, 05/17/2021 - 16:27

Learn about the diverse and innovative technology projects pioneered by ��è��Ƶ Technology Innovation Grant recipients throughout the years. Explore the ways that ��è��Ƶ grantees use technology to provide legal assistance to low-income Americans.

2025 Technology Initiative Grant Awards

In the 2025 cycle, ��è��Ƶ awarded 32 Technology Initiative Grants (TIGs) to 22 legal services organizations totaling over $4.2 million. This year’s TIG recipients are taking several innovative approaches to leveraging technology to strengthen their organizations and expand access to legal services.

Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) projects can (1) implement new or innovative approaches for using technology in legal services delivery; (2) enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of existing technologies so that they may be better used to increase the quality and quantity of services to clients; or (3) replicate, adapt, or provide added value to the work of prior technology projects.

Sustainability, Enhancement, and Adoption (SEA) Grants enable successful TIG grantees to develop their projects further, integrate them effectively into the service delivery system and complete the necessary activities for long-term success. SEA Grants generally focus on sustainability, enhancements or increasing adoption of the developed technology.

An award for a Technology Improvement Project (TIP) is intended to provide funding for appropriate consulting services to conduct a technology assessment, information security audit, business process improvement or technology planning process.

Expand All

2025 Technology Grants

Legal Aid of Arkansas (AR)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Legal Aid of Arkansas is expanding to become a statewide provider of legal services, increasing the scale and complexity of its operations. To support this transition, the organization has received an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Grant to engage a qualified consultant to conduct a Mid-Level IT and Security Assessment and provide actionable recommendations for immediate and long-term improvements. The results will guide phased enhancements and the development of a comprehensive IT Strategic Plan to strengthen security, improve efficiency and ensure reliable, equitable services statewide.

Community Legal Aid SoCal (CA)

Category: TIG General
Award: $169,855
An ��è��Ƶ Workflow Improvement Project grant will strengthen Community Legal Aid SoCal’s intake and service delivery systems to improve client experiences and staff efficiency. Building on prior process analysis, the project will create and implement new workflows in the organization's case management system to reduce client wait times, enhance eligibility screening, automate compliance tasks and optimize the use of existing case management tools. These upgrades will help staff manage cases more effectively and deliver consistent, high-quality service. The project will also prepare Community Legal Aid SoCal for a new coordinated intake system that connects multiple legal aid organizations across Orange County.

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (CA)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) will use TIG funding to conduct a full review and assessment of its technology systems and cybersecurity. This project will help GBLA understand how well its current systems are working, find weaknesses and develop a plan to improve data security and protection. The results will guide upgrades that enhance GBLA’s technology, making it more secure, modern and efficient — helping safeguard client information and strengthen the organization’s ability to deliver legal services effectively.

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (FL)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project grant to engage an experienced consultant to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its centralized intake system. The consultant will analyze all intake entry points — online, phone, walk-in and courthouse applications — using quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness. Findings will identify areas for improvement and provide a roadmap to streamline operations, increase access and enhance the delivery of legal aid services.

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (FL)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Community Legal Services will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project grant to assess its decade-old Microsoft SharePoint system, which has become inefficient and poses potential security risks. The project will identify vulnerabilities and operational challenges, leading to a unified plan for a secure, streamlined SharePoint relaunch. The new system will incorporate security best practices, enhance collaboration and reduce maintenance demands.

Florida Rural Legal Services (FL)

Category: TIG General
Award: $164,438
With an ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant, Florida Rural Legal Services will partner with Safe Haven AI to implement an AI-powered hotline that provides 24/7 access to intake through human-like voice interactions. The system will screen applicants, automate data collection and integrate with LegalServer, allowing staff to focus on speaking with eligible clients and engaging in higher-value legal work. By improving accessibility, reducing wait times and streamlining workflows, the project will enhance the overall efficiency and reach of Florida Rural Legal Services by enabling staff to serve more people while ensuring applicants receive timely and accurate information.

Legal Services of North Florida (FL)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project grant to engage a consultant to assess and improve its intake system using business process analysis principles. The project will evaluate workflows, technology tools and staff time to identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions that expedite eligibility screening and case acceptance. The resulting implementation plan will lead to reduced response times and improved client satisfaction and ensure more efficient use of staff and resources.

Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc. (GA)

Category: TIG General
Award: $304,979
With an ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant, Atlanta Legal Aid Society will implement a Georgia-specific version of the Legal Aid Content Intelligence (LACI) system — an open-source tool developed by Lone Star Legal Aid to automatically track and update changes in laws, regulation, and court rules in order to ensure self-help legal information is always accurate. The project will enhance LACI with AI tools to identify federal citations, monitor key websites such as GeorgiaLegalAid.org and securely access state legal sources that utilize CAPTCHA. Creation of a shared governance model will support long-term collaboration and ensure LACI’s continued value as a time-saving resource for maintaining accurate, up-to-date legal information across the country.

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Atlanta Legal Aid Society will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project grant to strengthen cybersecurity to protect sensitive client data and ensure uninterrupted access to critical systems. The organization will engage a third-party firm to assess its technology environment, identify vulnerabilities, and provide a prioritized roadmap for remediation. The resulting improvements will reduce risks, enhance staff confidence, and ensure a secure, stable foundation for high-quality legal services.

Land of Lincoln Legal Aid (IL)

Category: TIG General
Award: $176,829
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid (LOLLA) will use ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant funding to modernize its intake and referral systems to improve efficiency, accuracy and the client experience. The project introduces two key tools: Guided Navigation within its case management system and a unified electronic referral form for community partners. Guided Navigation will help staff complete complex intake tasks accurately and consistently, while the referral form will allow partners to securely submit and track referrals that flow directly into the system. Building on findings from LOLLA’s 2023 TIG-funded intake assessment and best practices from peer organizations, this project will strengthen service delivery across LOLLA’s 65-county region and provide a scalable, sustainable model for other legal aid organizations.

Legal Aid Chicago (IL)

Category: TIG General
Award: $170,000
Legal Aid Chicago will modernize its client intake systems to make them more efficient, accessible and client centered. Building on an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project supported by ��è��Ƶ and the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, the project will use new technology to streamline processes, reduce administrative work and improve the applicant experience. Key upgrades include redesigning intake workflows in the organization’s case management system, expanding text messaging to strengthen communication, digitizing intake at community clinics, creating online referral forms for partners and developing a centralized digital referral matrix for internal use. Together, these improvements will ensure consistent, equitable service for all applicants and allow staff to focus more on delivering legal assistance.

Category: TIG General
Award: $84,461
With this ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant, Legal Aid Chicago will improve its criminal records relief services by developing and implementing a document automation tool. The project will integrate the tool with the organization’s case management system to automate the preparation of court filings and related documents. Automating these tasks will reduce administrative work and allow staff to spend more time directly supporting clients. The integration will also make it easier to keep court-filing templates up to date as approved forms change. Because these forms are standardized statewide, Legal Aid Chicago will share lessons learned and best practices with other ��è��Ƶ-funded organizations in Illinois. Overall, this project will increase efficiency, accuracy and access to justice for clients seeking criminal records relief.

Legal Aid of the Bluegrass (KY)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass (LABG) will use ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project funding to analyze its intake and communication systems. Expert consultants will assess client needs, recommend technology improvements, and design faster intake flows integrated with JusticeServer to enhance efficiency and service quality. The project will produce a written implementation plan detailing AI integration, security protocols and product selection strategies with the ultimate goal of reducing wait times and improving client access to legal assistance.

Michigan Advocacy Program (MI)

Category: TIG Sustainability, Enhancement, and Adoption (SEA) Grant
Award: $298,300
��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant funding will support Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP) partnering with Michigan Legal Help (MLH) to enhance MichiganLegalHelp.org, a statewide website that helps people without lawyers address their legal issues. This project continues the transition of MLH’s “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) legal form tools from the LawHelp Interactive platform to Docassemble, making them easier to use, more accessible, and more cost-effective to maintain. Project funding will also support contractor assistance for the migration process and improvements to the site’s accessibility and user experience. By the end of the grant, MLH’s most frequently used tools will be migrated, user-tested and refined to ensure the platform effectively serves self-represented litigants across Michigan.

Anishinabe Legal Services (MN)

Category: TIG General
Award: $103,255
Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS), in partnership with the Tribal Courts of the Leech Lake, White Earth and Red Lake Nations, will create a series of video tutorials to help people who represent themselves navigate probate and guardianship cases in Tribal Courts with ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant funding. The videos will use plain language to explain each step of the court process - from the required forms and filing procedures to what to expect during and after a case. ALS will collaborate with Tribal Court staff to ensure accuracy, test the videos with community members, and make updates as needed. The tutorials will be shared widely through Tribal websites, community events and outreach materials to improve access to justice across the three Nations.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (MN)

Category: TIG General
Award: $239,360
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), in partnership with Justice North and Legal Services State Support, will integrate generative AI into Minnesota’s coordinated legal aid intake system. The project will enhance the Legal Organizations Online Network (LOON) database to help intake staff quickly and accurately identify the most appropriate legal aid organization for each client. Through research, focus groups, and AI model testing, the project will explore chatbot and workflow integrations to improve referral accuracy and efficiency. In later phases, the project will refine the AI to better guide staff and applicants, improve data entry, and test tools such as voice-to-text and AI-assisted legal research, to strengthen access to justice statewide.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (MO)

Category: TIG General – Initial Planning Grant
Award: $78,200
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) will use ��è��Ƶ technology funding to conduct a 12-month planning and design project to develop “All Access Intake,” a blueprint for a multi-channel, AI-driven intake system that offers a “no wrong door” approach for clients seeking legal help. The project will design an integrated technology framework that combines AI-powered triage, multilingual accessibility, mobile-responsive portals, and VoIP modernization to ensure consistent, efficient service delivery. The resulting roadmap will guide future implementation within LSEM and provide a scalable, replicable model for legal aid programs nationwide.

Mid-Missouri Legal Services (MO)

Category: TIG General
Award: $130,495
Mid-Missouri Legal Services will use this ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant to develop an online platform and document engine to help self-represented consumers respond to debt collection lawsuits and wage garnishments. Building on other statewide web tools in Missouri focused on landlord/tenant law and family law, the Consumer Debt Defense platform will guide users through interviews to generate legal documents, provide a library of plain-language consumer rights information, and be accessible via the statewide legal aid website and at two new legal kiosks opened as part of this project. In collaboration with Missouri’s legal aid programs, MMLS will do outreach to ensure that people know how to access all of the new self-help tools available on the statewide website.

North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (MS)

Category: TIG General
Award: $166,964
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (NMRLS) will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant to develop a secure, mobile-responsive online intake system and make changes to its phone intake system to improve access to justice for low-income individuals. The project will focus on building online intake with triage for eligibility screening, an automated calendaring system for follow-up appointments, and improved call center operations These improvements will enhance efficiency, reduce administrative burden, and build a strong intake infrastructure that NMRLS can continue to build upon in the future.

Montana Legal Services Association (MT)

Category: TIG General
Award: $160,339
The Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) received funding to build on the Strategic Planning Tool first developed by the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland through a 2023 TIG project. The goal is to help MLSA and other legal aid organizations better track and measure progress on strategic, grant, and staff goals. The improved tool will use case data to show real-time progress and include timekeeping information to assess how resources are used. Planned upgrades include more flexibility in setting and weighting goals, trend analysis, and the ability to use outside data sources. These enhancements will improve data-driven decision-making, make grant reporting easier, and create a model other LegalServer users can adopt nationwide.

New Mexico Legal Aid (NM)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $34,870
New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) will use this grant to conduct a comprehensive technology assessment and cybersecurity audit to strengthen its systems and protect client data. A consultant will work with NMLA’s IT staff to identify strengths, address vulnerabilities, and develop an implementation plan with clear steps and timelines for improving its technology systems and infrastructure. The findings will also inform a Continuity of Operations Plan to ensure that NMLA can maintain services and safeguard data during natural or manmade disasters. This project will improve NMLA’s technology security and reliability, enabling staff to serve clients better statewide.

Nevada Legal Services (NV)

Category: TIG General
Award: $127,159
Nevada Legal Services (NLS) will use this ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant to enhance its statewide network of legal kiosks, located in 28 libraries across Nevada, by adding an AI-powered search assistant. The kiosks currently provide access to free legal information and resources but have usability challenges for people unfamiliar with legal terms or categories. With input from an outside vendor, NLS will conduct user testing and implement the Kiosk AI Assistant to enable plain language, multilingual search and navigation. Modeled after a successful Texas project, this upgrade will make it easier for users — especially in rural and underserved communities — to find accurate, understandable legal information and resources quickly and efficiently.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (NY)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) will use this ��è��Ƶ grant to develop a Business Process Improvement Plan to strengthen its client intake system. The project will review current intake practices to find ways to improve efficiency, consistency and the overall experience for applicants. LSHV will gather data, conduct research and engage staff and stakeholders to shape a strategy for future use of multilingual, AI-supported technologies. Although this project focuses on planning rather than implementation, it will lay the groundwork for equitable, evidence-based technology improvements that make it easier for clients to access legal services.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (OH)

Category: TIG General
Award: $165,756
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant to develop and launch a Housing Law AI Research Assistant to help staff and volunteer advocates more efficiently support clients facing urgent housing issues. The tool will use generative AI and conditional logic to simplify legal research and document drafting, allowing advocates to quickly find relevant information, prepare pleadings and store research notes in one place. Designed with strong data security and encryption safeguards, the system will protect client information while remaining accurate and easy to use. By reducing the time spent on manual research and writing, this project will help Legal Aid Society of Cleveland serve more clients and improve outcomes in housing-related matters, particularly eviction defense cases.

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
With funding from an ��è��Ƶ Technology Improvement Project grant, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland will hire a technology and cybersecurity consultant to review the organization’s current systems and security practices. The consultant will conduct a comprehensive audit to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. The findings will inform a detailed report with practical steps to enhance the organization’s efficiency, effectiveness, and data security. These improvements will help Legal Aid Society of Cleveland better serve its clients and the broader community.

Oklahoma Indian Legal Services (OH)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
Oklahoma Indian Legal Services (OILS) will use this ��è��Ƶ grant to strengthen its technology infrastructure by developing a comprehensive Technology Access Plan. OILS will work with a consultant to assess its current hardware, software and technology contracts, identify gaps and cost-saving opportunities, and develop a long-term technology plan to guide future investments. The plan will also include tools for ongoing evaluation and improvement. The project will help OILS maintain efficient operations, improve collaboration, and continue delivering high-quality services to clients across its offices.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (OR)

Category: TIG General
Award: $250,000
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) received a two-year ��è��Ƶ grant to develop and implement a statewide online intake system integrated with Oregon Law Help, the statewide legal information website. The project begins with a comprehensive assessment of LASO’s intake processes, staff workflows, technology gaps and client needs to guide design and implementation. The new system will make it easier for low-income Oregonians to request legal help, improve efficiency and expand access to justice. It will feature a mobile-friendly portal with self-screening tools, automated scheduling and potential AI features to guide users and streamline the referral process. The project will modernize intake, reduce wait times and ensure consistent, accessible service throughout the state.

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (PA)

Category: Technology Improvement Project (TIP)
Award: $35,000
This ��è��Ƶ grant will support Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s (LASP) efforts to redesign and modernize its client intake system to make legal assistance more equitable, efficient and accessible. The project will review current intake processes to find ways to reduce wait times, prevent dropped calls and improve language access. LASP will also introduce new technology tools, including a unified client portal and AI features, to streamline pre-screening and make communication easier. By analyzing workflows, reviewing data and engaging staff and clients, LASP aims to create a more user-friendly and responsive intake system. The redesigned process will help ensure that every client inquiry receives prompt attention and support.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (TN)

Category: TIG General
Award: $209,056
The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant to integrate agentic AI into its legal aid helpline intake system. The system will autonomously complete phone intakes, transform voice data into structured case information, and create new matters in LegalServer, offering scalable, secure and multilingual intake capabilities. By automating and enhancing data accuracy, this technology will reduce wait times, expand access and set a new standard for efficiency in legal aid service delivery.

Legal Services Vermont (VT)

Category: TIG Sustainability, Enhancement, and Adoption (SEA) Grant
Award: $469,992
Legal Services Vermont (LSV) will use an ��è��Ƶ Technology Initiative Grant to improve its online self-help tool, VTCourtForms, which helps Vermonters without lawyers prepare accurate court forms. This project will expand the number of available guided interviews using Docassemble, covering key areas such as family law, housing and debt collection. LSV will also implement a new feature on its website that allows users to electronically file their completed forms directly with Vermont courts, making the process faster and easier. In partnership with Suffolk University Law School’s Legal Innovation and Technology Lab, LSV will also create a national support center to help other states develop or enhance e-filing systems for people representing themselves in court.

Judicare Legal Aid (WI)

Category: TIG Sustainability, Enhancement, and Adoption (SEA) Grant
Award: $175,000
Wisconsin Law Help (WLH), the state’s only legal help website for people without lawyers, launched in January 2025 with support from the Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) program. WLH connects users to clear legal information, practical resources, and referrals to free or low-cost legal services. This Technology Initiative Grant will help Judicare Legal Aid to expand the site’s content, accessibility, and features to better serve low-income and rural residents. WLH will also increase outreach so more people who need help can easily find and use the site. With continued support from TIG and the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, WLH will continue to grow to meet the state’s need for accessible legal guidance.

Previous TIG Awards by Year

2024 TIG Awards
2023 TIG Awards
2022 TIG Awards
2021 TIG Awards
TIG Awards Archive

In the 2024 cycle, ��è��Ƶ awarded 32 Technology Initiative Grants (TIGs) to 29 legal services organizations totaling over $5 million. This year’s TIG recipients are taking several innovative approaches to leveraging technology to strengthen their organizations and expand access to legal services.

2024 TIG Award Recipients

In the 2023 cycle, ��è��Ƶ awarded 33 Technology Initiative Grants (TIGs) to 29 legal services organizations totaling over $5 million. This year’s TIG recipients are taking several innovative approaches to leveraging technology to strengthen their organizations and expand access to legal services.

2023 TIG Award Recipients

In 2022, ��è��Ƶ awarded Technology Initiative Grants (TIGs) to 33 legal services organizations totaling $4,679,135. Grant recipients have used this funding to enhance cybersecurity, build educational platforms, strengthen program capacity and support the work of pro bono attorneys. Successful TIG projects are often replicated by organizations around the country, creating wide-reaching impacts. View the press release for the 2022 TIG award recipients.

2022 TIG Award Recipients

In 2021, ��è��Ƶ awarded Technology Initiative Grants (TIGs) to 26 legal services organizations totaling $4,268,938. These funded projects provided greater access to high-quality legal assistance for low-income Americans and enhanced the operations of legal aid organizations around the country. View the press release for the 2021 TIG award recipients.

2021 TIG Award Recipients

This report describes TIG funds awarded from 2000-2020.

TIG Awards 2000-2020

Outcomes Grant Program Technology Initiative Grant (TIG)

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richardsons@lsc.gov

Implement ��è��Ƶ Evaluation and Assessment Tools

Breeglej@lsc.gov — Fri, 07 May 2021 16:45:19 +0000

Implement ��è��Ƶ Evaluation and Assessment Tools Breeglej@lsc.gov Fri, 05/07/2021 - 12:45

Implement ��è��Ƶ Evaluation and Assessment Tools. These tools will help guide you through how to use and assess data, evaluating current programmatic quality and others.

Training Outcomes

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Basic Field Awards

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:51:14 +0000

Basic Field Awards admin Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:51

��è��Ƶ (��è��Ƶ) has reached funding decisions for the calendar year 2025 grant awards.

Final 2026 Funding Allocation

On January 23, 2026, President Trump passed the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 to fund the federal government. The act included a 3.8% funding cut for the Basic Field Grant.

The 2026 Basic Field Grant allocations also reflect adjustments based on the 2025 ��è��Ƶ Agricultural Worker Poverty Population estimates provided by the Department of Labor.

The final 2026 funding decisions are available in the Final 2026 Grant Allocations chart linked below. The funding chart shows the grantee, the grant amount, the grant type (the funding component), and the service area.

See the 2026 funding allocations under the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) appropriations bill.

FY2026 Allocation by State and Service Area

Steps for Locating Monthly Basic Field Grant Payment in GrantEase

Below are the steps that grantees should take to view their monthly grant payments:

Sign into GrantEase
Click on "Grants" at the top navigation bar
Then, click on "Awards" under "Activities" in the left-side menu. An "Awards" page should open.
Type "FY25” Basic Field Grant" in the search bar and click on the green eyeball associated with that row. This will open the amendment award record.
Navigate to the "Terms" section of the award record.
Under the "Payment Request Schedule" table, click the "+" icon to expand the table and view the monthly payments.

��è��Ƶ Notice of Intent to Award 2026 Grant Funds

On October 31, 2025, ��è��Ƶ published a list of grant applicants under consideration for the calendar year 2026 Basic Field Grant awards on ��è��Ƶ’s Matters for Comments webpage. Grants will be awarded so that each service area is served; however, none of the listed organizations is guaranteed an award or contract. The funding estimates may change based on the final 2026 appropriation.

Steps to Signing Your Grant Award

Award recipients will receive the Acceptance of Grant Award (AGA) and any special grant conditions through Adobe e-sign. Instructions for returning these grant documents are provided below:

Looking for awards from previous years?

Visit the Allocation Results page for the amount and change of each grant award over multiple years.

Allocation Results

Can’t find what you are looking for?

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to ��è��Ƶ Grants.

Outcomes Basic Field Grant Grant Program

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richardsons@lsc.gov

Outcomes

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments Infographic

“By examining various research methodologies, ��è��Ƶ grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery."

Model Practices & Innovations: Strategic Planning

Community Research Strategies in Legal Needs Assessments

Comprehensive Needs Assessments and Priority Setting

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Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

Research Data for Legal Needs Assessments

"By examining various research methodologies, ��è��Ƶ grantees can enhance their own data collection and analysis strategies, yielding actionable insights and allowing more effective service delivery.”

Leveling Up Staff as a Strategy for the Future

A Culture of Systems Change: Legal Services NYC’s Impact Advocacy

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Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: Zoning In on Housing Justice

Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: Zoning In on Housing Justice

“By participating as a host site for [the Housing Justice Program], LASEV was able to focus much-needed time and effort on addressing the most pressing issues facing residents."

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Neighborhood Advocacy Program

Colorado Legal Services: Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

Model Practices & Innovations: Eviction and COVID-19

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A Culture of Systems Change

Legal Services NYC’s Impact Advocacy: A Culture of Systems Change

“LSNYC understands that potential impact litigation cases can come from any practice area, as well as outside the organization.”

Using Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice

Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

Strategic Planning

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Neighborhood Advocacy Program

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Neighborhood Advocacy Program

"Neighborhood Advocacy’s significant accomplishment was its ability to quickly create and implement a trusted, well-respected, neighborhood-based pro bono project in an area with no pre-existing legal support system.”

Eviction and COVID-19 Cases

Library Partnerships During Disaster Recovery

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

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From Courtroom to Community: How Legal Services NYC Uses Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice

From Courtroom to Community: How Legal Services NYC Uses Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice

“An important aspect of conducting sustainable impact work is shifting organizational culture to see legal aid work not just as solving the same problem a thousand times, but as addressing inequality on a systemic level.”

Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

A Culture of Systems Change

Strategic Planning

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Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

Colorado Legal Services: Shaping Stories through Impact Advocacy and Litigation

“Day-to-day legal aid cases do not always make headlines, but they still provide clients with peace of mind, justice, and dignity in the most dire moments of their lives.”

Using Impact Advocacy and Litigation to Expand Access to Justice

A Culture of Systems Change

Strategic Planning

More on Strategic Planning

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Technology Initiative Grant Awards: TIG Projects Funded by Year

2025 Technology Initiative Grant Awards

Previous TIG Awards by Year

Implement ��è��Ƶ Evaluation and Assessment Tools

Basic Field Awards

Final 2026 Funding Allocation

Steps for Locating Monthly Basic Field Grant Payment in GrantEase

��è��Ƶ Notice of Intent to Award 2026 Grant Funds

Steps to Signing Your Grant Award

Looking for awards from previous years?

Can’t find what you are looking for?

More on Strategic Planning 

More Model Practices & Innovations 