MLAC Applauds $35M for civil legal aid in Senate Ways & Means Budget

$6M increase recognizes severe Impact of pandemic on low-income people

BOSTON, May 11, 2021 – Today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee presented its Fiscal Year 2022 budget, including $35 million to fund civil legal aid through the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, line item 0321-1600. That is a $6 million increase over FY21.

“We are exceptionally grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for this critical funding increase and for their leadership in recognizing that civil legal aid is an essential service,” said Lynne Parker, executive director of MLAC. “Even though COVID-19 infection rates are declining as vaccinations increase, the effects of the pandemic continue to be disproportionately impacting low-income people, who have suffered severe loss of income and profound threats to their housing, benefits, and safety. Legal aid staff have innovated to provide essential legal services to the most vulnerable people in Massachusetts since the first days of the pandemic, and the need for services shows no signs of abating.”

Parker thanked Majority Leader Cynthia Creem and Senate Judiciary Chair Jamie Eldridge and other members of the Senate for their support of this increased funding, noting that they have seen firsthand during the pandemic how legal aid organizations across the state have helped their constituents in crisis.

She praised the Equal Justice Coalition, which has championed essential work of civil legal aid, including the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association, managing partners of many of the state’s largest law firms, and advocates with social services organizations across the Commonwealth.