*This story originally aired on September 11.
People who use legal services from Iowa Legal Aid in Sioux City and elsewhere in the state could benefit from a nearly half-million dollar grant.
The Legal Services Corporation on Thursday announced the grant to Iowa Legal Aid, as one of 19 legal services organizations in the nation getting a grant from LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund.
LSC is awarding $5.1 million nationally to expand and improve pro bono legal services for low-income Americans.
Per a release, Iowa Legal Aid will use the grant to ideally serve 600 clients. ILA will aim to recruit 40 new volunteer attorneys and train staff in all 10 of its regional offices.
Half of eligible low-income Americans who seek legal help are turned away because legal services organizations lack adequate resources, according to LSC’s justice gap research.
To extend their reach, legal services organizations engage private attorneys who volunteer their time and take cases “pro bono.” In partnership with organizations like ILA, pro bono attorneys help address the legal needs in their communities.
Since the PBIF grant program began in 2014, LSC has awarded 180 grants totaling more than $50 million. The funding for these awards comes from a congressional federal appropriation to LSC.
