“Unshackling Legal Aid”

A March 14th Washington Post editorial calls for lawmakers to lift
congressionally imposed restrictions that have kept the Legal Services Corporation from working
more efficiently and broadly.

For example, unlike most others who represent plaintiffs, Legal
Services lawyers who prevail in a civil case are prohibited from
seeking legal fees from an opponent. This makes no sense, especially
because any recovery of fees could supplement the group's funding.

Legal Services is also barred from using public or private funds to
engage in a range of activities, including all class-action lawsuits,
any representation of immigrants who are in the country illegally and
all litigation involving abortion-related matters. While some limits on
the use of taxpayer dollars may be appropriate, none should limit what
local legal-aid clinics can do with money they raise privately. Sen.
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is spearheading an effort to address many of these
issues and may unveil legislation as soon as next week. Such reforms
are long overdue.

Read the full editorial at the Washington Post website.