Civil Legal Services to the Disadvantaged

General program support to preserve NHLA's ability to work for equal justice. Key goals in the coming year are enhanced efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of legal services lawyers and development of a more focused approach to the legal problems of New Hampshire's children and adolescents.

General program funding to support efforts to ensure high quality civil legal services to New Hampshire's poor through the coordination of volunteer private attorneys.

To preserve the Law School Loan Assistance Program and expand eligibility to include attorneys at the Disabilities Rights Center.

General program support to help fund its mission of providing direct representation of indigent clients in a variety of civil legal matters through the law school clinic, to train law students to handle the legal needs of indigent and under-represented clients, and to instill in students the ethic of pro bono service.

To go toward operating funds to ensure LARC's staff receives pay and benefits commensurate with other legal service organizations in New Hampshire. Also for membership dues to two national legal services organizations: Management & Information Exchange (MIE) and National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA). Additionally, because LSC prohibits payment of non-mandatory bar association dues with its funds, a small amount is earmarked for NHBA section and local bar membership dues for LARC attorneys.

Support for the Bar Association's efforts to meet the growing demand for reduced-fee legal services by lower-income families who cannot afford standard legal fees. The funds will be used to pay for overall program operations and staffing.

This unique project provides free, expedited legal representation for low-income victims of domestic violence.

Public Education on the Courts and Legal Matters

To provide funds to eligible families to cover the cost of legal services to assist and encourage families to develop future plans for their developmentally disabled son or daughter when they are no longer able to care for the child. Because of the unique nature of legal documents in this area, there are a small number of attorneys qualified to provide such services, making assistance unlikely through pro bono. This project addresses this unmet need.

To sponsor two continuing legal education programs in the poverty law seminar series. One seminar will focus on representing tenants in evictions with the objective of preventing homelessness. The second seminar on domestic law is designed to equip volunteers with new tools and the latest information necessary to handle the high demand for legal assistance in family law matters. For the first time, the discounted tuition opportunities will be expanded to include reduced-fee attorneys.

For first year start-up funds, as well as training expenses for this new organization that has been established to introduce and promote the competent and ethical practice of collaborative law in New Hampshire.

To expand its Young Heroes program in Strafford County. Young Heroes provides safe haven and structured activities for middle school students, reducing the number of latchkey children and increasing the opportunity for these young people to be involved in programs that foster civic responsibility and social justice.