The Access Commission’s 2023 Annual Report
This report summarizes important events and developments during 2023.
In 2023, CalATJ became the first of the 40 Access to Justice commissions in the United States to be recognized in a state statute, Government Code Sections 68655 – 68659.
The California Legislature also authorized and funded CalATJ to administer a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to counter the crisis in hiring and retaining legal aid lawyers in the state.
CalATJ continued to select grantees and distribute $4.8 million annually for Innovation and Infrastructure Grants to legal aid organizations, not limited to IOLTA recipients.
Working with the Council of County Law Librarians, CalATJ initiated “Your Life, Your Plan,” which will provide self-help assistance, with the support of pro bono lawyers, to seniors and individuals with serious health conditions referred by health care providers to County Law Librarians. We are grateful for the California Lawyers Foundation’s support of this work.