To fund, support, and improve legal representation of the poor, vulnerable, and otherwise diadvantaged in the District of Columbia.

View a copy of the Bar Foundation's most recent Annual Report. Archived Annual Reports are found below.

$1.1 Million from IOLTA and Private Contributions Awarded to Civil Legal Services Organizations

The D.C. Bar Foundation awarded $1.1 million in grants to civil legal services organizations at its June Board meeting. The total amount of grants awarded was half that awarded a year ago, as a result of the severe drop in IOLTA revenues. Grants will support a range of critical legal services across the city. Read more. . .

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. 

DC Bar Foundation Awards $3.1 million of Public Funds for Civil Legal Services

The DC Bar Foundation announced March 31, 2009, a total of $3.13 million of publicly-funded grants to support civil legal services in the District of Columbia.  This is the third year of the DC City Council's groundbreaking appropriation to expand legal services into more low-income communities in DC.  Click here for  a list of 2009 grantees.  Look at a map of legal services offices in the District to see the impact of the public funds. Three areas of service, identified by the City Council, will continue to be funded in FY2009 by the DC Bar Foundation:  (a) increasing legal services in underserved neighborhoods, (b) increasing legal services on housing-related issues, and (c) creating a shared legal interpreter bank.  Contact Claudia A. Withers, Director of Programs, with any questions:  withers [@] dcbarfoundation.org or 202-467-3750 ext 13.

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:

http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa

http://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:

FY2007 Annual Report

FY2006 Annual Report

FY2005 Annual Report