March Washington Letter

This Month's Articles

Federal Government

Support LSC Funding – During Emergencies and Always

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) was created to promote equal access to justice by providing funding assistance to civil legal aid programs that exist in every congressional district. Without access to the legal services funded by LSC, low-income Americans could not afford to get help resolving serious legal problems that affect their lives and economic stability.

Federal Government

Preserve PSLF

Nearly 80% of all students take out student loans. The average law school debt ranges from $90,000 to $130,000, while the average public interest law salaries start at $50,000. How can law students or new lawyers who want to work in public sector professional jobs afford to accept them when they have more than $100,000 in student loans to repay? The answer in part is to accept public service jobs where some of their loan balances might be forgiven.

Federal Government

Protect the Attorney-Client Privilege and Right to Effective Counsel

The attorney-client privilege is fundamental to ensuring fairness in the justice system and vital to securing the candor and cooperation a lawyer needs to effectively represent and serve his or her client. That is why it is extremely troubling to discover that the email system used in federal prisons forces inmates to submit to routine monitoring and review of all their email communication, including confidential emails with their lawyers.

Federal Government

Expanding Broadband Access to Rural Communities

Many communities across America lack adequate and affordable internet service or do not have access at all, creating a “digital divide” between those who live in cities and those who live in rural areas. According to the most recent statistics available, over 20 million Americans do not have broadband or high-speed internet access - and most of them live in rural communities.

Federal Government

Allow the VA to Provide Legal Aid for Homeless Vets

There are many reasons that a veteran may become homeless, and it takes a range of people and services to help get those men and women back on their feet, but as we wrote in June, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) lacks the ability to fund legal aid in any way. The ABA is fighting to help change that and we need YOU to join us.

Criminal Justice

COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Includes More than $1B for Criminal Justice Needs

The $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday includes more than $1 billion for criminal justice needs, including protective gear for prisons and teleconferencing equipment for the federal judiciary.

March 2020 Washington Letter

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

This Month's Articles

Support LSC Funding – During Emergencies and Always

Preserve PSLF

Protect the Attorney-Client Privilege and Right to Effective Counsel

Expanding Broadband Access to Rural Communities

Allow the VA to Provide Legal Aid for Homeless Vets

COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Includes More than $1B for Criminal Justice Needs

American Bar Association TM American Bar Association

March 2020 Washington Letter

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

This Month's Articles

Support LSC Funding – During Emergencies and Always

Preserve PSLF

Protect the Attorney-Client Privilege and Right to Effective Counsel

Expanding Broadband Access to Rural Communities

Allow the VA to Provide Legal Aid for Homeless Vets

COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Includes More than $1B for Criminal Justice Needs

Archive

About the Washington Letter

Current Washington Letter