On Tuesday, April 19th, during the White House Forum on Increasing Access to Justice, the Legal Services Corporation made a major announcement: Microsoft will commit at least $1 million in funding, technical support, and project management services to address the increasingly dire need for civil legal aid throughout the country. A recording of the announcement is available on the LSC website where the organization’s President, James Sandman, explains the objectives of Microsoft’s plan. In partnership with Pro Bono Net, Microsoft and the LSC will create statewide online legal portals, providing single-point access to legal resources and information for low income individuals and others who are unable to obtain legal services.
Thanks to the generosity of the LSC and the dedication of the Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC), the Lone Star State has already made great strides in closing the justice gap. Leveraging the power of the Internet and the innovations of technology, the TLSC has successfully extended the reach of legal aid efforts. The immensely popular web portal at TexasLawHelp.org, provides free, reliable legal information to low-income Texans. With additional funding and support from Microsoft, the TSLC and other state legal aid organizations throughout the country will be well-positioned to expand their civil legal aid efforts, resulting in greater access to justice for the most vulnerable populations.