California Access to Justice Commission
Programs
Infrastructure and Innovation Grant Program
INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM: With funding from the Equal Access Fund appropriation in the State Budget Act, our Infrastructure and Innovation grants strengthen legal aid nonprofits and start new forms of legal help for low-income Californians. Year 2 (one-year grants beginning April 2023) & Year 3 (one-year grants beginning April 2024) each awarded $4,875,000 in four quarterly installments spanning the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, with 44 and 49 grants respectively. The projects funded by the grants provided legal help to thousands of Californians. (REPORTS CAN BE FOUND AT https://calatj.org/grants/grant-resources)GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$6.7MEviction Assistance Grant Program
GRANTS FOR EVICTION ASSISTANCE: THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT PROVIDED THE ACCESS COMMISSION WITH $207,000 TO FUND GRANTS TO CONTINUE AND ENHANCE EFFORTS BEGUN IN RESPONSE TO THE EVICTION AND HOUSING LEGAL NEEDS CREATED BY COVID-19 AND THE END OF EVICTION MORATORIUMS. FOUR LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERS RECEIVED THESE GRANTS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$198.5KLoan Repayment Assistance Program
LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LEGAL AID LAWYERS:THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE HAS RECOGNIZED THE CALIFORNIA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION (CALATJ) IN STATUTE (GOV. CODE SECTIONS 68655-68659). IT HAS APPROPRIATED $250,000 TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE CALIFORNIA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER A TAX-ADVANTAGED STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS EMPLOYED BY QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICE PROJECTS AND SUPPORT CENTERS. (STATS. 2023, CH.34, SEC.23 (SB133) EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2023.) THE NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM IS MANIFEST. NEW LEGAL AID JOB OPENINGS NOW STAY UNFILLED FOR MONTHS. RETAINING EXPERIENCED LAWYERS IS, IF ANYTHING, A BIGGER PROBLEM. ONE-THIRD OF CALIFORNIA LEGAL AID LAWYERS LEAVE FOR OTHER JOBS EACH YEAR. CANDIDATE LAWYERS CONSIDERING LEGAL AID JOBS AND VETERAN LAWYERS DECIDING WHETHER TO STAY REPORT THAT THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS MONEY. STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS ARE A MAJOR FACTOR. OVER 84% OF ENTRY-LEVEL CANDIDATES AND OVER 75% OF ALL LEGAL AID LAWYERS HAVE EDUCATIONAL DEBT, WITH THE MEDIAN AMOUNT BEING BETWEEN $125,000 AND $149,000, WITH TYPICAL INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS OF $8,000 PER YEAR. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE FOR LEGAL AID LAWYERS OF COLOR WITH A MEDIAN EDUCATIONAL DEBT RANGE OF $200,000$225,000 (2014 TO 2018 GRADUATES) AND HIGHER INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL PAYMENT BURDENS. (PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LRAP CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://CALATJ.ORG/LRAP)GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$101.6K
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