LSC Board Chairman to Speak At Symposium on Civil Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC - Frank B. Strickland, chairman of the Legal Services Corporation Board of Directors, will join other nationally recognized scholars, attorneys and judges this week for a symposium to examine trends in civil legal justice and the challenge of helping low-income persons obtain civil counsel and access to courts.

The American Bar Association Section of Litigation, with more than 74,000 members, is sponsoring the symposium, "Real People, Real Needs, Real Solutions: Access to Legal Representation in Civil Litigation." The symposium will be held Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 in Atlanta.

"This forum is a great opportunity to address one of the nation's most pressing problems-how to best help the most vulnerable among us, seeking protection from abuse, at risk of losing their livelihoods or facing the prospect of losing their home or shelter," Frank Strickland said. "One of the impacts of the economic downturn will be an increase in the number of low-income Americans who are eligible for LSC-funded services."

The two-day symposium will bring together leaders in the legal profession, including Justice Robert Benham of the Georgia Supreme Court and Carolyn B. Lamm, president-elect of the ABA. Mr. Strickland will provide commentary on Dec. 4 after symposium presentations on access to justice issues.

Mr. Strickland has served as chairman of the LSC Board since April 2003 and is a partner in the Atlanta firm of Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP.

He has served as a director of the Georgia Legal Services Program, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the Federal Defender Program Inc. While serving as president of the Atlanta Bar Association in 1985-86, Mr. Strickland led an effort to provide representation to Cuban detainees held at a federal prison. More than 400 volunteer lawyers provided pro bono services in administrative parole proceedings.

LSC is the largest single funder of civil legal aid in the nation, providing grants to 137 programs. About 51 million Americans are eligible to receive civil legal aid from LSC-funded programs. Most are at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline, an income of $26,500 a year for a family of four.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.  