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    Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense

    The Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) has jurisdiction over matters related to the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of effective civil legal aid and criminal indigent defense delivery systems and services, including by: (a) advocating for meaningful access to the justice system for all; (b) supporting viable and effective plans to increase funding for legal aid and indigent defense delivery systems and services; and (c) developing standards and policy, disseminating best practices, and providing training and technical assistance.

    2025 ABA Forum on Building Access to Justice for All

    The third annual ABA Forum on Building Access to Justice for All will take place October 15-17, 2025, at The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia. The Forum will combine the annual Joint IOLTA Conference, the National Lawyer Referral Workshop, and the National Meeting of State Access to Justice Commission Chairs (ATJ Chairs Meeting). The 2025 Forum will provide unique educational training, networking opportunities, and support to access to justice commissions, IOLTA programs, lawyer referral programs, and others working to increase access to the civil justice system.

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    Virtual Training: The New ABA Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid

    Now Free for ABA Members!

    For sixty years, the ABA Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid have provided guidance to the nation's legal aid organizations on best practices for the delivery of legal services to their clients. The Standards recently underwent a year-long revision and redrafting process, resulting in a newly adopted set of Standards that reflect today's legal aid practice. This six-hour training is designed for legal aid organization leaders, managers, staff, funders, and board members to learn how the Standards have been revised to better support the provision of high-quality legal services and to ensure that legal aid organizations are managed effectively.

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    Housing Preservation Resources

    SCLAID Task Force on Eviction, Housing Stability, and Equity

    The SCLAID Task Force on Eviction, Housing Stability, and Equity brings together experts and leaders from ABA entities and external organizations to improve due process, access to legal services, and housing preservation for tenants facing eviction.

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    Be a Part of SCLAID's Future

    For over 100 years, SCLAID’s work would not have been possible without ABA membership dues. Today's public interest lawyers of all practice backgrounds are able to join the ABA for significantly reduced dues rates of as little as $75 per year. These dues are critical to supporting not just the work of SCLAID, but also that of many other ABA public interest entities. Plus, membership provides a wide array of benefits tailored to the needs of our public interest practitioners. Join the ABA and support both our and your future!

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    Public Defense

    The Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) is working to improve public defense systems nationwide.

    Public Defense Publications

    Exemplary Defense: A Study of Three Groundbreaking Projects in Public Defense

    Ten Guidelines on Court Fines and Fees

    Rhode Island Workload Study Report

    Colorado Workload Study Report

    Access to Justice Commissions

    Access to Justice Commissions are collaborative entities that bring together courts, the bar, civil legal aid providers, and other stakeholders in an effort to remove barriers to civil justice for low-income and disadvantaged people.

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    Legal Aid Funding Report

    Financial resource limitations remain one of the largest barriers preventing civil legal aid providers, even with their pro bono allies, from addressing the needs of low-income client communities. The ABArray Legal Aid Funding Report provides users with online access to SCLAID's national legal aid funding data collection from 2003 to present.

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    Civil Right to Counsel

    Access state research reports detailing existing authority for appointment of counsel in various types of civil proceedings.

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    Loan Repayment Programs

    Loan repayment programs ("LRAPs") and loan forgiveness programs have emerged as a solution for relieving the debt burden of some law graduates.

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    Language Access

    The Standards and extensive commentary provide guidance to courts in designing, implementing, and enforcing a comprehensive system of language access services that is suited to the needs in the communities they serve.

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    Donate

    Help us improve access to justice by donating to the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid & Indigent Defense (SCLAID).

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    About SCLAID

    The Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) serves the American Bar Association by addressing issues related to the delivery of civil legal aid and of criminal indigent defense. It maintains close relationships with state and local bar and legal aid/defender leaders, providing information and developing policy on civil legal aid and indigent defense. The Committee also works closely with leaders of the states' judiciaries and national judicial leaders in forging improvements in access to justice. It advocates for, and works to ensure the availability of, legal aid and defender services for indigent persons through a variety of activities and projects. SCLAID is the ABA’s oldest standing committee; established in 1920 under the leadership of Charles Evans Hughes. The Committee has adopted a strategic plan articulating four goals: (1) supporting resource development for public defender and legal aid programs, as well as for SCLAID itself; (2) establishing national guidelines and standards for legal aid and public defense while also recognizing exemplary programs; (3) advocating for meaningful access to the justice system for all; and (4) providing education and training on needs and gaps within current justice systems.

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    Explore the Legal Services Division

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