WE THANK THE D.C. COUNCIL FOR RESTORING FUNDING TO THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVE
The Access to Justice Initiative is the District’s largest public investment in civil legal services for low- and moderate-income residents. Since fiscal year 2007, the Commission has annually led a community effort to secure and grow these funds, that are administered by the D.C. Bar Foundation and granted out to over 30 nonprofit organizations in D.C. The legal services offered through the Initiative support a wide range of legal issues, including family law, protection from abuse, economic security, housing, public benefits, education, consumer protection, employment and much more. The Initiative also funds the Community Legal Interpreter Bank and a loan repayment program for public interest attorneys who live and work in D.C.
The FY26 budget passed by the D.C. Council in July 2025 funds the Initiative at $31.7M, reversing a $21.211M or 67% reduction from FY25, FY24, and FY23 funding levels.
Please join us in thanking each D.C. Councilmember for this support.
Click HERE or go to www.dcaccesstojustice.org/advocacy to learn more about how you can support the Access to Justice Initiative during the FY26 budget process.
Why is the Initiative an important community priority?
Community Leaders are speaking out about how cuts to the Access to Justice Initiative threaten our civil justice system
Letter from D.C. Bar President, President-Elect, and 27 Past D.C. Bar Presidents
Learn how legal services helped a D.C. resident save her home… and her life.
On June 12, 2025, 90 witnesses spoke about devastating impact of reductions to access to justice and victims services. Hear from just a few of the nearly 40,000 District residents who received life-saving help (clips above). Our summary of the day’s testimony is to the right.
Learn about what the Access to Justice Initiative means to just one legal services organization
200+ D.C. government agencies, businesses, health systems, schools, social service providers, and nonprofit organizations rely on the Initiative to connect D.C. residents with needed legal help in areas like health, safety, education, and so much more.
How the Initiative Advances Community Priorities
See the Impact of the Initiative in Each Ward
In the Media
Review past news coverage of the Initiative at our “In the Media” page
History of Public Funding
For more on the history of the Access to Justice Initiative, go to our “History of Public Funding” page
Questions?
To learn more, contact the Commission’s Executive Director, Nancy Drane, at nancy.drane@dcaccesstojustice.org or (202) 736-8334 or Diana Sisson at diana.sisson@dcaccesstojustice.org.
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