November 2025 News of Note

Read the Latest Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program Report

The Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (CLCPP) is a grant initiative administered by the DC Bar Foundation, aimed at providing legal assistance to low-income DC residents at risk of eviction or losing housing subsidies. 

The latest Biannual CLCPP report evaluates the programs, activities, and outcomes during the reporting period from January to June 2025. In this period, CLCPP partners closed nearly 1,700 cases, 91% of which were eviction cases.  And, during this reporting period, CLCPP partners helped 348 families retain possession of their homes – 129 (37%) of which had minor children living in the home and 131 (38%) of which reported having a household member living with a disability. These numbers were similar to cases closed and clients served in 2024.

Among the tenants that received legal services from CLCPP partners, 41% connected with services through the Landlord-Tenant Legal Assistance Network (LTLAN). The LTLAN is a single phone line for tenants facing eviction, where attorneys are available to help those in need. 

Click here to read the full report.

DC Resource Bridge Places Clients within Four Days

The DC Resource Bridge is a one-stop service that makes it easier for DC residents to find the legal support they need, at no cost. DCRB aims to pair clients with a free lawyer if they are eligible based on their financial situation. Otherwise, clients may be offered the option of receiving low-cost help. DC Resource Bridge staff have responded to time-sensitive cases within 3 business days, and non-time-sensitive cases within 4 business days. This response time is faster than the targets that were established.

DCRB partners with over 20 legal service providers and currently assists with family law, public benefits, foreclosure, debt issues, and cases in the DC Court of Appeals. DC residents can call (202)-933-HELP (4537) to connect with the DCRB. Click here to learn more about the DC Resource Bridge.

DCBF Awards Scoutt Prize to The Honorable Rebecca Goldfrank

Thank you to those who joined us on November 18 for our annual Fall Reception. It was a distinct privilege and honor to present the Jerrold Scoutt Prize to its 2025 recipient, The Honorable Rebecca Goldfrank, Magistrate Judge at the DC Superior Court, and former Legal Director at the DC Affordable Law Firm. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather with family, friends, and colleagues to recognize the transformative work of DC's legal services community throughout 2025. Click here to see a tribute video for Judge Goldfrank, and here to see photos from the event.

Thanks for your support, Truist Bank

Truist Bank has increased its rate on Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) deposits effective July 1, 2025. This has made Truist Bank a Benchmark partner and is expected to meaningfully increase the Foundation’s annual IOLTA unrestricted resources to support our grantmaking work.

We are grateful for Truist Bank's pledged support and look forward to strengthening our funding of grantee partners through the anticipated additional revenue.

Benchmark and Prime Partner banks have committed to supporting legal services in our community by offering market rates. Banks that pay market rates on their IOLTA deposits and those that newly commit to this support will be recognized and highlighted throughout the year.  Thank you, Truist Bank, for partnering with us to continue supporting needed legal services for residents of the District of Columbia.  We appreciate you!

Learn more about the IOLTA Program here.