Legislative advocacy aimed at maintaining and expanding resources for representation of low-income people is the linchpin of NLADA's mission to achieve equal justice. This crucial work includes educating and lobbying Members of Congress on the need to increase funding for the Legal Services Corporation, representing NLADA's members before federal agencies and vigorously monitoring the Legal Services Corporation.

In conjunction with its national grassroots network, NLADA works closely with Members of Congress and their staffs, lobbying legislators and helping to organize hearings, secure witnesses, draft legislation, and monitor floor activity to advance the cause of civil legal aid. Through its Legal Services Justice Campaign, previewed in the Grassroots Network area of this site (click on the link above), NLADA has been instrumental in building strong, bipartisan support despite critics' unrelenting attempts to discredit the Corporation and the programs it funds.

But NLADA's advocacy on behalf of civil legal aid is not limited to LSC funding:

• At the same time it lobbies to preserve and grow LSC funding, NLADA also vigorously monitors the Corporation and regularly advocates on behalf of the civil legal aid community with the LSC board and key staff. More information on our work in this area can be found in the LSC area of this site.

• Through the association's Advocacy Resource Project, NLADA is pro-active in its representation of the legal aid community before federal agencies including the Department of Justice. A periodic newsletter, Advocacy Funding Fact$, highlights funding opportunities. Current high-priority focus areas include VAWA's Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program and loan forgiveness. These two initiatives may be viewed at VAWA and Loan Forgiveness. Current high-priority focus areas include VAWA's Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program and Loan Forgiveness. NLADA members can elect to receive Advocacy Funding Fact$, a newsletter highlighting federal funding opportunities for programs providing legal aid services.

• NLADA also advocates on behalf of its civil member programs on issues related to the Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) program, state legislative funding and on resource development to support state level and national substantive advocacy.

• Last but not least, NLADA participates as amicus curiae in cases of critical import to civil legal aid providers.