Legal Services Corporation Funded Legal Aid Organizations

Purpose

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent 501(c)(3) corporation that provides federal funding to legal aid programs across the country, including eleven legal aid organizations in California. LSC regulations require that these legal aid programs have governing bodies that include a majority of attorney members and that the attorney members reasonably reflect the diversity of the legal community and population of the area served by the legal aid organization. The State Bar Board of Trustees makes appointments to the board of directors for the following five legal aid organizations upon their request and recommendation:

Details about the qualifications for and service on these organizations’ boards will be available here when there are State Bar appointee vacancies. The State Bar will prioritize applicants for appointments on legal aid boards who:

  • support the purpose of the Legal Services Corporation Act and demonstrate an interest in and knowledge of the delivery of quality legal services to the poor,
  • reflect the diversity of the legal community and population of the area served by the legal aid organization, and
  • have affiliations in the community served by the legal aid organization licensed by the State Bar of California.

Note that the State Bar does not reimburse travel-related expenses for appointees to LSC-funded legal aid organizations. For additional information on each organization, please visit the specific organization’s website.

Board Membership Opportunity: California Indian Legal Services

The State Bar seeks applications from attorneys interested in serving on the Board of Directors for California Indian Legal Services (CILS). The State Bar’s Board of Trustees will appoint one board member in 2022. The term of service is three years.

CILS is a nonprofit organization funded by the Legal Services Corporation and the State Bar. It provides legal assistance for indigent Native Americans and Indian tribes. CILS’s mission is to protect and advance Indian rights, foster Indian self-determination, and facilitate tribal nation-building. CILS’s 13-member board meets four times a year to make policy decisions governing the program’s operations.

Interested attorneys should apply by submitting a letter of interest and a resume outlining work experience, community activity, and educational background by February 28, 2022. For more information and/or to submit application materials, please contact: CILS Executive Coordinator Jecixca Carvajal at jcarvajal@calindian.org or 117 J Street, Suite 201, Sacramento, CA 95814.