ALPS Foundation Services prides itself on its work with bar foundations. Healthy, effective bar foundations serve a variety of important functions, both for the legal profession and society as a whole.
Bar foundations improve the administration of justice and fulfill the American vision of equal justice for all.
Bar foundations help millions of low-income people gain access to justice, people who represent the diversity of America – encompassing all races, ethnic groups and ages, ranging from family farmers to the elderly, domestic abuse victims to victims of natural disasters.
Bar foundations facilitate understanding of and compliance with the law and promote the study of law.
Bar foundations advance the science of jurisprudence.
Bar foundations uphold high standards for the judiciary and lawyers.
Bar foundations support the administration of pro bono efforts.
Bar foundations fund civil legal aid programs, increasing access to justice for people living in poverty across the U.S. Consider the following facts:
- The American Bar Association has estimated that despite serving 1.9 million clients in 1997, the collective civil legal aid is meeting only about 20 percent of the legal needs of low-income people.
- Despite relatively prosperous times, more than 35 million Americans are still living below the poverty level, and another 10 million have incomes that are less than 25 percent of that level. As a result, roughly one in five U.S. citizens is eligible for federally funded legal services.
- Most low- and moderate-income people feel shut out from the legal system. They do not turn to the courts for solutions because they believe the system will not help them.
- Civil legal aid ensures justice for all Americans, regardless of their income. Many people would otherwise not be able to afford access to the courts to resolve their legal troubles.
- Source for Facts: National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Put simply, bar foundations do important work, and represent the very best that the legal profession has to offer.