[District of Columbia, March 10, 2025] – The DC Bar Foundation has named Legal Aid DC to host the DC Resource Bridge, a user-centered initiative designed to make it easier for District residents with low income to access legal help quickly. The hosting agreement covers the next three years.
“Launching DC Resource Bridge represents a critical milestone in the Foundation’s vision to transform the delivery of legal services across the District of Columbia,” notes Kirra L. Jarratt, CEO of the DC Bar Foundation. “Legal Aid DC has the experience and capacity we were looking for to host this collaborative venture.”
More than 50 organizations in DC provide free or low-cost legal services. Navigating the maze of providers can be daunting and discouraging for residents who need legal assistance. DC Resource Bridge – formerly known as CIR or Coordinated Intake & Referral – will include a dedicated phone line and website, where trained navigators conduct intake screenings and facilitate referrals using a customized technology platform.
Over the past five years, the Foundation has led a process to design a coordinated intake and referral system, gathering input from hundreds of District residents and dozens of legal aid organizations.
“After a pilot launch in June 2024 that focused only on family law issues, DC Resource Bridge is now transitioning toward its full launch,” reports Farid Forozi, the Foundation’s director of evaluation and innovation. “Through an open and inclusive RFP process, Legal Aid DC was selected to host the full launch, which will gradually expand to all areas of law and integrate legal service providers across DC.”
“Legal Aid DC is proud to help lead the effort to reduce barriers to critical services as the DC Resource Bridge's host,” reflects Vikram Swaruup, Legal Aid DC’s executive director. “We look forward to making it easier for our community to navigate the legal system. No one should have to face a legal crisis or hardship alone, and the DC Resource Bridge will make it easier for District residents to access the legal help they need."
About the DC Bar Foundation: We are committed to transforming DC’s legal aid network so all District residents have access to our local civil justice system without regard to knowledge, income, or power. Through our network approach, we actively bring together all invested stakeholders to identify and address the unmet civil legal needs of DC residents with low income, create solutions, and demonstrate meaningful impact.
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