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What’s NewAlabama Law Foundation Announces 2008 IOLTA Grants (01/05/2008)
The Alabama Law Foundation announces its yearly IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts) grants to programs committed to the foundation’s mission of making access to justice a reality for all of Alabama’s citizens. As Alabama’s major grant maker for legal aid, the Alabama Law Foundation annually distributes 80% of IOLTA funding to programs that provide legal aid to citizens who cannot afford an attorney. Other award categories are improving the administration of justice, and supporting law related education for the public.
IOLTA is the financial foundation for the Alabama Law Foundation. The IOLTA program allows attorneys to convert their commingled client trust accounts to interest-bearing accounts. This interest then is disbursed to the Alabama Law Foundation, and a grants committee distributes the funds to law-related charities across Alabama. In January 2008, the Alabama Law Foundation’s IOLTA program, the only one affiliated with the Alabama State Bar, joins those of 36 other states by becoming a mandatory program. The new mandatory rules are expected to increase the foundation’s revenue and so help meet the dramatic need for legal services. The IOLTA grants for 2008 total $592,000.
Programs that provide legal services for the underserved collectively received IOLTA grants totaling $473,600. Legal Services Alabama provides legal aid to economically disadvantaged citizens through ten offices with staff attorneys. A $200,000 grant was awarded for technical assistance and four new attorneys. The Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, which refers cases directly to lawyers in 64 counties and coordinates over 1,000 volunteers, received an $80,000 IOLTA grant. The Mobile Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program refers cases to 611 attorneys who provide free legal service to low-income clients in Mobile; the program was awarded a $60,000 grant. The Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program, which refers cases to 606 attorneys in the Birmingham area, received a $60,000 IOLTA grant. Rolling Justice, a new outreach program being developed for rural areas, was awarded a grant of $73,000.
Projects in the category of “Administration of Justice” received IOLTA grants totaling $108,400. The Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama assists attorneys appointed to capital cases in the post-conviction stage and supplies some representation to indigent defendants. The Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama received a $50,000 IOLTA grant for general operating funds. The Georgia Innocent Project works to exonerate wrongly convicted prisoners through DNA testing. Alabama is one of three states not currently served by an Innocence Project; a $2,000 IOLTA grant helps Georgia’s Innocence Project expand its operations to Alabama. The Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice identifies and seeks to find solutions to the root causes of injustice and inequality in Alabama. Their $14,000 IOLTA grant is designated for operating expenses. Lauderdale County Family Court received a $22,000 IOLTA grant to supplement a parenting program that seeks to resolve conflicts regarding visitation and other issues before they escalate and require court involvement. The Alabama CASA Network supports CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) by training volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in court. The $15,000 IOLTA grant helps hire a second employee. The Cumberland Community Mediation Center trains volunteers to work as community mediators to help people settle disputes and avoid going to court. The IOLTA grant of $5,000 is for general program support.
The Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education received an IOLTA grant for $10,000 to help pay for their “Play by the Rules” program that educates high school students about the law, their responsibilities and problem-solving skills. An additional grant came this year from the Katrina Disaster Fund. Most of the money collected after Hurricane Katrina was given to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army to meet immediate needs. However, realizing that Katrina’s victims would require legal services in the aftermath of the damage, the Alabama Law Foundation set aside funds for future need. This year, the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice received a $13,000 grant to help low-income hurricane victims get clear title to their homes so they can get assistance money to rebuild.
Since the IOLTA program was established in 1987, the Alabama Law Foundation has awarded $13 million in grants. Through the new, mandatory IOLTA program, the Alabama Law Foundation can increase funding for legal aid programs and help build a stronger, more democratic society by making access to justice for all citizens in Alabama a reality.
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