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To fund, support, and improve legal representation of the poor, vulnerable, and otherwise diadvantaged in the District of Columbia.
DC Bar Foundation Seeks Development Director
The DC Bar Foundation is accepting applications for the position of Director of Development. Click here for the job description and application information.
DC Adopts New IOLTA Rule Effective August 1– Are you In Compliance?
As of August 1, 2010, all DC lawyers need to have all of their IOLTA-eligible funds in an IOLTA account, as the DC Court of Appeals has changed the IOLTA program from opt-out to comprehensive. Under the new rules, lawyers can only hold funds at banks that agree to pay comparable rates, and that are on a new list of participating approved depositories that meet the new rules’ standard. Some exceptions apply. Click here for more information.
View a copy of the Bar Foundation's most recent Annual Report. Archived Annual Reports are found below.
Legal Services Network Hit by Economic Crisis
The economic crisis is hitting 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 DC Bar Foundation convened a series of listening sessions with local legal services providers and a separate listening session open to local law firm pro bono counsel. Follow the links for summaries of the sessions. The sessions provide a sobering and thoughtful report on the impact of the current economic crisis on both clients and provider organizations in D.C.
Information For IOLTA Account Holders
The D.C. Bar Foundation has received inquiries from individuals asking about insurance on IOLTA accounts. Through December 31, 2009, most IOLTA accounts are fully insured, regardless of the balance. Please click here for general information on this isssue, and resources that may be useful as you evaluate the security of your IOLTA account.
New Federal Legislation Affecting Loan Repayment
The recently enacted College Cost Reduction and Access Act will allow many public service employees to obtain forgiveness on the balance of their Federal student loans after 10 years in qualifying employment and 10 years of qualifying payments. Currently, regulations to implement this new legislation have not been finalized. To learn more about the bill and its potential benefits for you, we recommend that you check with your law school’s financial aid office and review the information provided by Equal Justice Works and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators at the following links:
www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa
www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/FAQPublic.pdf
In August, 2008, four additional loan repayment programs were created by the Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008, P.L. 110-315. Civil legal aid lawyers may qualify for assistance of up to $6,000 per year, as well as partial cancellation of Perkins Loans. Congress needs to make appropriations for the programs, and regulations need to be developed. For more information, see: http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/pl110
Archived Annual Reports:
 | Quarterly reports for FY110 Access to Justice grants are due August 16, 2010. Click here for the report form. | ||
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Final grant reports for FY09 IOLTA grants are due July 31, 2010. Click here for the report form. | ||
| Eric S. Angel and Vytas V. Vergeer receive 2010 Scoutt Award. . .more | ||
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DC Access to Justice Commission and DC Consortium of Legal Services Providers release report on economic impact: Rationing Justice: The Effect of the Recession on Access to Justice in the District of Columbia, Click to read. | ||
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DC Bar Foundation awards $1.1 million in IOLTA/private grants to support DC legal services . . .more | ||
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DC Bar Foundation awards $3.1 million in publicly-funded legal services grants. . . more. | ||
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The DC Bar Foundation conducted a series of listening sessions with DC legal services providers to understand the impact of the economic crisis on both clients and providers. Click here for a summary. | ||
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A summary of the 2006 Public Funding Listening Sessions is available in .pdf. | ||
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