New Report Shows Legal Aid is a Valuable Resource to All Michiganders | |
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The Michigan Justice for All Commission (JFAC) released a report on the value of legal services based on SROI analysis: “Michigan Legal Aid Organizations: Social Economic Impact and Social Return on Investment,” and it affirms that legal services are a highly valuable resource to Michiganders. Social Return on Investment (SROI) is an internationally standardized and accepted process for measuring and understanding the financial impacts of a social services organization by comparing the money invested to the combined immediate and long-term monetary values.
The report found that Michigan legal aid services have had an exceptionally high social return on investment in recent years, at 669% for 2019 and 2020, the years covered in the study. This means that for every dollar invested in legal aid in 2019 and 2020, Michigan residents received $6.69 in immediate and long-term benefits. These significant cost savings included immediate increased employment and revenue for individuals; and long-term savings in community support costs, medical care expenses, housing and support costs for homeless families, and additional income for the state of Michigan.
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MAP’s Angela Tripp, MLH Director, and JFAC Vice Chair shared the following on the report release: “From child custody to housing issues, civil legal cases can often be life-changing, and too many of our friends and neighbors are left to navigate a complicated legal system without adequate resources or information. As we work to close the civil justice gap in our state, the JFAC will use this data to ensure that resources are available where they are most needed.”
The SROI for Michigan legal aid organizations was found to be much higher than other social services, due to the future cost savings from the many types of legal aid services available (focusing on over 100 legal problems), as well as the significant number of hours dedicated by pro bono volunteers.
“Every legal aid program…has more people needing their help than they can possibly provide assistance to and…has to set out priorities.” Said Angela Tripp in an interview with WKAR.
“And I think this information can help [with] that. But I think most importantly, it will help the Justice For All Commission to bring additional funding to legal services programs and those providing these services because we can show what an important and critical part of the civil justice system these resources are.”
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Giving Tuesday is November 29th! | |
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Mark your calendar! Giving Tuesday–the largest global giving day of the year–is a few weeks away on November 29th. Giving Tuesday was created to encourage people to do good. It has since become a movement of generosity–during which people lend a helping hand, advocate for a cause, share a skill, or give to an organization they care about. Everyone has something to give on Giving Tuesday and every act of generosity counts!
If you intend to give on Giving Tuesday this year, please consider a gift to MAP, as your donation can help us continue to provide critical legal services to people who need them most. Not in a financial position to donate this year? You can help MAP by sharing our newsletters or social media posts with your networks.
Michigan attorneys, please note that MAP participates in the Access to Justice (ATJ) Campaign, a collaborative centralized campaign, administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan. To make a charitable contribution, please donate on the Access to Justice Campaign site. 100% of your donation will be distributed to support civil legal aid to the poor throughout Michigan. For further information, visit our website.
Follow us on social media for more updates throughout the month on how you can participate in this giving celebration!
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Purple Thursday
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Staff from across our programs collectively recognized this by participating in Purple Thursday. Thank you to our outstanding staff members who wore purple for domestic violence awareness!
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Staff Attend the NLADA Conference
In October, several staff attended the 2022 National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) Conference in Arlington, VA to learn new civil legal aid skills!
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New Report on the Michigan Farmworker Project Co-authored by FLS Managing Attorney, Kara Moberg | |
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The report, entitled, “The Michigan Farmworker Project: Development and Implementation of a Collaborative Community-Based Research Project Assessing Precarious Employment and Labor Exploitation” details the relationship between precarious working conditions and labor exploitation with occupational and environmental health inequities and social justice for farmworkers in Michigan.
The report describes the development of the participatory process with community partners and discusses implementation challenges and lessons learned from the field. It reflects on how farmworkers’ social and working environment goes beyond precarity, revealing labor exploitation as an important deterrent to farmworker health and well-being. Despite entrenched systems of structural oppression, farmworkers contribute to our society with their rich cultural backgrounds, work, and resilience.
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Interested in Legal Aid Work?
Here are some ways you can make a difference!
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Join Our Team
We are seeking new team members who share our passion for providing access to justice to those who need it most. Visit our employment page for full postings.

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Volunteer
MAP welcomes volunteer attorneys in each of our counties and programs. To volunteer, please complete our Pro Bono Attorney Registration Form.

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Give
Through your contributions, we can provide safety and security to thousands of Michigan families. Visit the link below to make a non-attorney donation, or click here to make an attorney donation.
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Please help us spread the word about these upcoming community events and resources. | |
Washtenaw County Expungement Fair | |
Saturday, November 5, 2022 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
LSSCM, MAP, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office, Michigan Works! Southeast, the Washtenaw Office of the Public Defender, and the Washtenaw Sheriff's Office are proudly partnering to offer assistance with expungements to people with at least one conviction in Washtenaw County. Attorneys and administrative staff will be at the event assisting with screening for eligibility and application preparation.
This event will take place in person at the Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center (4135 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48108)
Register here
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Free Legal Advice for Washtenaw County Residents
Thursday, November 10, 2022 - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm by appointment
The Washtenaw County Bar Association in conjunction with Legal Services of South Central
Michigan has created a pro bono legal clinic to provide legal assistance to the residents of
Washtenaw County.
Call 734-484-2989 to schedule an appointment
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LSNTAP Webinar: Case Study #2 - Migrating to a New CMS
November 15, 2022 - 3:00 PM EST
Join LSNTAP on November 15th for a case study on how some legal service organizations chose, planned, implemented, and subsequently refined their case management system. The webinar will focus on project management, stakeholder engagement, and change management, but will also touch on some key technical considerations when implementing a case management system at your organization.
Register here
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Family Law Assistance Project (FLAP) Clinic
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Who should attend?
Individuals with low income, who are U.S. Citizens or eligible undocumented immigrants; who need legal services in Oakland Country or live in Oakland County; whose circumstances are related to a domestic Personal Protection Order (PPO), or family law issues such as divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, minor guardianship; etc.; and who are not represented by an attorney.
More info
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MIRC's Christine Sauvé received Community Service Award
Congrats to MIRC's Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator Christine Sauvé on this recognition for her work as a Co-Chair of the Detroit Immigration Task Force from MIRC's partners at the Caribbean Community Service Center.
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MEJI Staffer, Vincent Pinti, featured on Good Morning America
"Disability is not inability; disability is a fabric in the world of diversity."
MEJI staff member Vincent Pinti was featured on Good Morning America in this segment, honoring his mentor, Dr. O, for his incredible work in adaptive sports at The University of Michigan.
Read more
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Larry Schneider Selected as ICBA Pro Bono Award Recipient
The Ingham County Bar Association honors at least one individual with the LSSCM Pro Bono Award at the ICBA Annual meeting in November. The award is bestowed annually to a lawyer that has made significant contributions through Legal Services of South Central Michigan’s pro bono program.
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Oath of Office: Judge Eicher Sworn In During Ceremony Thursday
"[Judge Amanda Eicher] credited the support of her coworkers at Legal Services, the advice she's received from both retired and current judges in Monroe County, and the urging of one particular friend for making it happen."
Read more
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