DC Resource Bridge

Here you will find information about how the DC Resource Bridge (DCRB) was developed, along with an overview of what the system is, who is involved, how the community has shaped this initiative, and how it will serve clients.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming DC Resource Bridge Chat

The DC Resource Bridge is a user-centered system that will allow DC residents to access civil legal aid seamlessly and efficiently. Our goal throughout this process is to work collaboratively with the DC legal aid community and give you opportunities to provide feedback and offer suggestions. The DCRB Chat is our regular touchpoint for these conversations.

The DC Bar Foundation's next upcoming DC Resource Bridge Chat (formerly known as CIR Chat)

will take place on September 24th, from 2:00 to 2:30 PM.

In this month's DC Resource Bridge Chat, we will share how applicants will be able to access the DC Resource Bridge and what applicants and legal services organizations can expect when engaging with the DCRB. In this chat, we will also share information to assist organizations in making referrals to the DCRB, including how to best prepare applicants for when they contact the DC Resource Bridge

Following the 15–20 minute presentation, there will be a Q&A session lasting for 10-15 minutes.

Registration is required to attend, and you can register here.

DC Resource Bridge receives the Partnership for Success Award - 2025

the National Conference of Bar Foundations honored the DC Bar Foundation with its 2025 Partnership for Success Award for our work on the DC Resource Bridge. The award honors bar foundation initiatives that make a significant impact in their communities on issues for which lawyers are uniquely positioned to lead, provide a replicable framework that other bar foundations can adopt, and engage in collaborative efforts with other stakeholders, such as law firms, courts, legal organizations, and foundations involved in law-related programs.

In presenting the award on August 15, Carl Butkus, a retired judge from New Mexico’s 2nd Judicial District Court, said, “The DC Bar Foundation has worked with community members, legal aid providers, technology experts, and other key stakeholders to ensure the DCRB is responsive, inclusive, and effective. DCRB’s success lies not only in its efficient intake and referral workflows, but also in its potential to transform access to justice.”

This is a collective win for every organization, service provider, and community member who partnered with us, offered feedback, and supported the idea of reimagining access to justice for DC residents.

Watch Now: Innovations in Technology Conference 2023: Get the Inside Scoop on CIR

In January 2023, Kirra Jarratt, CEO of the DC Bar Foundation, was a speaker at the Innovations in Technology Conference hosted by Legal Services Corporation. Her panel, which she shared with three other speakers, focused on Coordinated Intake and Referral. Kirra specifically spoke about DCBF's DC Resource Bridge System, the process of designing the system, and the impact it will have on District residents. Joseph Schieffer, our technology project manager for the system, was also in attendance.

WATCH THE SESSION HERE

Public Launch of the DC Resource Bridge and Service Provider Directory

As of September 22, 2025, the DC Resource Bridge (DCRB) is available for DC residents to access civil legal aid directly. Community members can call (202) 933-HELP (4357) or visit dcresourcebridge.org to speak with trained navigators who will guide them through the process and connect them to appropriate legal services.

Organizations across the District can also refer residents to the DCRB for legal assistance. At launch, the system will support referrals in family law, consumer law, public benefits law, and appellate law, with plans to expand into all areas of civil legal aid over time.

The DC Resource Bridge improves access by reviewing each applicant’s legal needs and eligibility, then thoughtfully connecting them to a legal services provider equipped to assist.

In addition to the launch of the DCRB, the public can access a new and comprehensive Provider Directory that covers all practice areas of civil law. This Directory seeks to help residents identify their legal issue and locate providers across Washington, DC who offer relevant support

Questions or Comments?

If you have questions or comments about the DC Resource Bridge, please send an email to innovation@dcbarfoundation.org.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

For decades, the District’s civil legal aid community has struggled with how to create a more fair and just system. The Foundation approached earlier efforts through our grants program. Then, in 2020, we tried something different: we partnered with Joseph Schieffer, a consultant with expertise in developing coordinated legal aid systems in other parts of the country, to research our community and past efforts and recommend a strategy. His work resulted in a December 2020 concept paper that became the basis for this current effort.

Following the release of the concept paper, the DC Bar Foundation has continued to seek feedback from various stakeholders throughout the civil legal aid system and refine the concept as we learn more. Recognizing the impossibility of relying solely on individual and small group conversations, in late 2021, we sought input and feedback from stakeholders about the structure and design of the anticipated Coordinated Intake and Referral System. More than 20 organizations and individuals responded to the request.

CLICK TO READ OUR REPORTS ABOUT THE BUILDING OF THE DC RESOURCE BRIDGE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A TIMELINE OF THE DC RESOURCE BRIDGE

Many DC residents facing significant legal challenges often struggle to access the help they need. The civil legal aid system can be difficult to navigate, with processes that are often slow and complex. Common barriers include being referred to organizations that cannot address their issue, discovering they are ineligible for services, or having to repeatedly share personal information. With more than 50 legal aid organizations in the District, varying eligibility criteria and limited system-wide coordination can make it difficult for individuals to identify and access a legal service provider suited to respond to their legal needs.

The DC Bar Foundation is committed to building an accessible, coordinated, and client-centered Civil Legal Aid System.

Our work is rooted in the belief that access to justice should not depend on wealth, knowledge, or power. Guided by these values, we have developed and continue to improve the DC Resource Bridge, a Coordinated Intake and Referral System designed to streamline access to legal services for DC residents. This system will enhance coordination among providers, streamline intake processes, and make it easier for residents to access timely and appropriate legal support.

DC RESOURCE BRIDGE FAQs

What is DC Resource Bridge?

A streamlined process for DC residents to access legal aid through a single phone number or website. It does not replace existing intake structures; it supplements them.

How will the design and rollout of the DC Resource Bridge System be evaluated?

Each phase of the process includes an associated evaluation protocol to collect data to inform the work of that stage. We are currently in the design phase, and the evaluation work is focused on gathering information from key system stakeholders to inform the system’s design. This work involved gathering input from legal service providers, allied organizations, community members, and clients. We put out a Request for Design Feedback and Input in September 2021 and collected responses through November 2021.

Explain the client focus groups and what they added to this process.

To ensure we have a user-centered system, we conducted focus groups from December 2021 through April 2022 to hear directly from people who have previously used or needed legal aid in DC. In total, there were more than 70 participants across 13 focus groups. The groups consisted of individuals from populations with particular vulnerabilities with respect to accessing the legal system. Groups included older adults, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, people with limited proficiency, and other individuals.

During each focus group, participants shared the challenges they experienced trying to access legal aid services in the past and how they would like to see this new system work in the future.

What is the DC Social Justice Transformations Network, and how is it connected to the DC Resource Bridge?

A major component of the DCRB process is the DC Social Justice Transformations Network (DCSJTN), which launched in June 2021. It is a community of activists, health and social service organizations, academia, government, philanthropy, media, banking, faith-based, arts, business, and other stakeholders whose work impacts the civil legal aid system in DC.

DCSJTN meets quarterly to increase collaboration and identify how, as a community, we can transform the delivery of legal aid in the District. Within the DC Social JusticeTransformations Network, we have encouraged the formation of subnetworks, such as the intake specialist subnetwork. Some of the subnetworks include consumer protection/small business, housing, domestic violence/sexual assault victim services, public benefits, immigration, employment, family/probate, intake specialists, and other focus areas. For more information or if you would like to join, please email Michanda Myles, DCBF’s network manager.

Do You Still Have Questions or Comments About DCRB?

We'd love to hear from you! Please email us at innovation@dcbarfoundation.org.

STAFF