CHICAGO, Aug. 2, 2022 — The ABA Military and Veterans Legal Center (MVLC) announced today that it has awarded a total of $100,000 in ABA Veterans Legal Assistance Grants to these organizations:
- Public Counsel ($35,000)
- Swords to Plowshares ($35,000)
- Community Veteran Justice Project ($30,000)
In 2022, the center accepted grant applications from nonprofit organizations with projects based in California that deliver legal services to veterans primarily in California. Up to three organizations could receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000.
The MVLC created the grant program so that state and local programs can better meet the legal needs of underserved veteran populations within their communities. To help fund the grants, the ABA received a donation from a foundation that wishes to remain anonymous. The ABA received this funding as a result of the 2016-17 ABA Veterans Legal Services Initiative.
In evaluating proposals, preference was given to programs that meet at least one of the grant’s three primary objectives:
- Providing outreach and legal services
- Collaborating with other legal services
- Creating or improving referral databases
“Through the ABA Veterans Legal Assistance Grant program, the ABA is proud to support nonprofit legal organizations that assist servicemembers, veterans and their families,” ABA President Reginald Turner said. “Through these grants, the ABA helps fill access-to-justice gaps within these legal organizations’ local military and veterans communities.”
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.