Funding the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation: $54 Million for Civil Legal Aid in FY26

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Budget update

FY25 Appropriation: $51 Million

Civil legal aid is a lifeline for Massachusetts residents in crisis

Caregiver holding hand of her senior patient while doing a checkup at a retirement home

Legal aid organizations provide essential services that help people across the state meet their critical needs related to domestic safety, housing, employment, health care, and more. The state’s continued investment in civil legal aid helps thousands of people with low incomes address serious legal problems when they need it most. Civil legal aid is a sound investment with over $109 million in economic benefits delivered to the Commonwealth and its residents in FY24, an increase of $9 million over the FY23 savings.

The Need for Civil Legal Aid in FY26: Recent investments in civil legal aid are significantly reducing the number of eligible people who are turned away due to a lack of adequate program resources. Current data shows that the state’s increased support for MLAC has enabled civil legal aid organizations to reduce the turn away rate to approximately 40% of income-eligible applicants, down from over 60% a few years ago. Real progress has been made, but there are still too many vulnerable people with low and extremely low incomes unable to access the legal help they need.

The MLAC funding request of $54 million will help MLAC-funded civil legal aid organizations increase support for proven programs, serve more people and families facing serious legal issues, and stabilize legal staffing capacity.

People and families with incomes at or below 125% of the poverty level ($40,187 per year for a family of four or $19,562 for an individual) qualify for assistance. The latest census data show that more than 325,700 people are living in extreme poverty, defined as having an income below 50% of the poverty line ($16,075 for a family of four or $7,825 for an individual). That’s 38% of the population eligible for civil legal services.

Legal Aid in FY24

  • 105,373 people benefited from civil legal aid in Massachusetts
  • $109 million in estimated economic benefits delivered to the Commonwealth and its residents
  • Residents in 94% of cities and towns in Massachusetts were assisted by civil legal aid

MLAC at a glance

Marblehead, Massachusetts

MLAC is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the Commonwealth. It distributes state-appropriated funding to 16 legal aid organizations across Massachusetts and provides supportive services in the areas of information technology; data and research; program evaluation; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and communications. MLAC also partners with legal aid organizations, bar associations, and the Access to Justice Commission to activate a network of pro bono lawyers and publish legal self-help materials.

Delivering on the promise of equal justice for all. Civil legal aid organizations play an important role in delivering on the promise of “equal justice for all,” a credo enshrined in our federal and state constitutions. They provide advice and representation to people with low incomes who need help with legal issues that pose serious threats to their well-being and stability. Without civil legal aid, people who cannot afford a private attorney must navigate a complex court system alone—with potentially dire consequences.

A range of services

Legal aid advocates help people of all ages address vital civil legal issues, including:

  • Employment
  • Family Law
  • Domestic violence
  • Housing
  • Health care
  • Education
  • Veterans health care and more
  • Immigration
  • Income maintenance
  • Taxes
  • Elder law issues