October 7, 1999

The Honorable Judd Gregg
Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. Senate
Room 146A
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Ernest Hollings
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. Senate
160 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman and Senator Hollings:

On behalf of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, I urge your continuing support in conference for the $300 million funding level for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) included in the Senate version of the Commerce/Justice/State appropriations bill. Funding at this level, rather than the drastically reduced level contained in the House version of the bill, will continue the bipartisan national commitment to the poorest members of our society that equal justice under the law is not a hollow phrase.

Founded in 1950, the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP) is an independent, voluntary association of individuals who share the privilege of past and present bar leadership. NCBP, with members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, provides the opportunity for state and local bar association leaders to better serve both the profession and the public by focusing time and effort on specific areas of need. The NCBP is very concerned about the LSC’s ongoing ability to provide support for legal services to the poor and has recently passed a resolution opposing reductions in LSC funding.

State and local bar associations throughout the country strongly support their local legal services offices, funded in part by the Legal Services Corporation, as an essential component of a system to deliver civil legal services to the 35 million Americans who live in poverty. The bar associations are actively involved in this effort: the bars raise private funds for the local programs and their members provide millions of dollars of pro bono representation to the poor. At the same time, state bars around the country are also working with LSC to develop and implement comprehensive state plans to provide legal services more efficiently and effectively. Yet, despite the combined efforts of the organized bar and the local legal services programs, only 20 percent of the legal needs of the poor are being met.

The LSC is a model private-public partnership. The core federal funding provides for client intake and screening, referral of cases, handling emergency matters, training pro bono lawyers, and handling cases when no private lawyer can do so. LSC leverages and facilitates the utilization of private resources – both in-kind, pro bono services and private funding. Such other resources would likely diminish, not increase, if the LSC were not in existence.

The recent events in North Carolina underscore how important the Legal Services Corporation is, not only to low-income Americans, but to many Americans finding themselves the victims of natural disasters. As the lawyers in North Carolina have told us, “the distance from middle class to poverty is only one hurricane or flood or tornado away.” Many middle class residents have lost their livelihoods and are now income-eligible for the very services provided by LSC-supported programs.

Without a strong, well-funded Legal Services Corporation, legal services to the poor would be considerably diminished and, in some communities, would cease to exist. Your support for adequate funding for the Legal Services Corporation would be most appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me if the NCBP can provide additional information.

Sincerely,

W. Seaborn Jones
President, NCBP

cc:   Members of the Subcommittee
  Ted Stevens, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
   Robert C. Byrd, Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Committee
   George R. Moore, President, New Hampshire Bar Association
   D. Michael Kelly, President, South Carolina Bar

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