About MLAC
The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) was established by the Commonwealth in 1983 to ensure that low-income people with critical non-criminal legal problems would have access to legal information, advice and representation.
MLAC is the largest funding source for civil legal aid programs in Massachusetts.
Our Kids in Mass. Are Alright, But We Can Do Better
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers Here in Massachusetts, we have more than 200,000 children living in poverty, and more than one-third of them live in families extremely vulnerable to homelessness. Despite this, our state leads the nation in rankings for overall child well-being, according to the 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book, an annual report from The Annie […]
Make a Difference by Reaching Out
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers Fifty years ago this summer, thousands of college students from around the country — and from all backgrounds — volunteered to travel to Mississippi for Freedom Summer, a campaign that sought to register African Americans to vote. Three of those student volunteers were murdered (the 1988 film Mississippi Burning is loosely based […]
Closing the ‘Justice Gap’
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers Demand for civil legal aid continues to outstrip supply. Among attorneys and others in the field, this is known as the “justice gap.” It’s clear that we will never close this gap unless our federal and state funders dramatically increase their support. In the meantime, we must also find ways to expand […]
As Demand Rises, Civil Legal Aid Innovates to Expand Access to Resources
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers Demand for civil legal aid continues to outstrip supply. Among attorneys and others in the field, this is known as the “justice gap.” It’s clear that we will never close this gap unless our federal and state funders dramatically increase their support. In the meantime, we must also find ways to expand […]
Language Access Projects Crucial to Making Legal Services Accessible
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers People who do not speak English, or who have limited proficiency with English, can face many challenges when trying to access government services or pursue justice through the courts. Federal law and regulations have established standards to shield limited English proficient (LEP) persons from illegal discrimination. But the reality is that such […]
Civil Legal Aid Is a Potential Tool in Helping Victims of Partner Violence
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers When domestic violence makes national news, it is more often than not when a high profile celebrity is involved, as when Chris Brown was charged with assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. Here in Massachusetts, much attention is being paid currently to the case of Jared Remy, the son of Red Sox […]
When Talking About Civil Legal Aid, Don’t Forget Its ROI
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers The War on Poverty was launched 50 years ago, with the passage of the federal Economic Opportunity Act in 1964. That landmark legislation included provisions to strengthen civil legal aid services for low-income people through federal funding, because President Lyndon Johnson and Congress recognized that fulfilling our nation’s promise of equal justice […]
As 50th Anniversary Approaches, Public Funding of Civil Legal Aid Remains Vital to Justice
/in Blog /by mlacBy Lonnie Powers Last year, Massachusetts resident and single mother of two Daniele Bien-Aime was fired from her job as a medical interpreter after requesting time off for treatment for breast cancer. With no income, Bien-Aime soon defaulted on her rent. So her landlord filed an eviction notice. Staff at the community health center where […]