2018 Annual Report DEAR LSA FRIENDS and SUPPORTERS
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2018 Annual Report DEAR LSA FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS: orking as a team in 2018, the Legal Services Alabama Board and executive Wmanagement team undertook the challenge of a firm transformation that was called the One Alabama Plan. Each member of the executive team, in conjunction with their respective standing Board committee, examined their work to make recommendations that would improve and expand LSA’s capacity to help meet the civil legal needs of the eligible client population in Alabama.. As a result, I look back on 2018 with pride in the transformative work LSA has been able to do. We worked with many community partners and funders to respond to the diverse needs of our clients across all 67 counties of the state. Our dedicated team of advocates provided high-quality legal services to nearly 11,000 elderly and low-income clients—protecting homes, livelihoods, health, and families. As you will read in this report, our “One Alabama” work plan developed new ways to reach Legal Services Alabama serves under-served populations, including: • veterans with health-harming legal needs; low-income people by providing • victims of elder consumer fraud abuse; and • students in need of advocacy around special education or excessive discipline. civil legal aid and by promoting We also continued refining and expanding ways to meet the LSA Board objective of addressing geographical inequity. Last year, LSA obtained a multi-year grant from the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation for a Rural Economic Improvement Project to provide collaboration to find solutions economic stability and improvement to the rural counties in our service delivery area. This work cannot be done without you—our donors, funders, and pro bono volunteers. As much as this report is a look back on LSA’s achievements, it also provides the opportunity to problems of poverty. to say thank you to the many individuals and organizations whose generosity helped make this possible. In 2019, LSA will celebrate its 15th Anniversary by continuing to unite as a community to work toward the idea that everyone in Alabama is entitled to equal protection under the law. Thank you. Guy E. Lescault Executive Director 2018 Advocacy Highlights Advocacy Update s Alabama’s only public interest law firm providing a comprehensive array A of direct services, LSA is very proud of the strides we’ve made on behalf of low- HOMES income Alabamians in 2018. Every day, our attorneys have the privilege of serving SAVED FROM some of the most underprivileged, as well as some of the bravest and strongest people 47 FORECLOSURE in the state, and last year was no different. In 2018, LSA made major strides in advocacy including filing cases regarding constitutional rights in federal court, handling numerous appeals ranging from consumer to family law and appearing for oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit CLIENTS OBTAINED A PROTECTION Court of Appeals for the first time since the creation of LSA in 2004. FROM ABUSE ORDER OR PROTECTION LANGUAGE IN A DIVORCE DECREE Why do we do it? The attorneys at LSA understand REPORT ANNUAL 2018 that for many of our clients, we represent the hope of a better life—a life that many Americans take for granted. VIC For many clients, LSA represents access to the money to ER ES S A pay utilities, protection of the roof over their heads, access A L to benefits that provide food, and the freedom to live life S L L without the fear of abuse. C A O — As Director of Advocacy, I am so very proud and humbled — THE WORK U M N A T B to be a part of a strong and amazing program that does so I A Michael Forton E S A L much for the people of this state. While the arc of history I N Director of Advocacy LEGAL SERVICES ALABAMA LEGAL SERVICES may be long, the attorneys and support staff of LSA are working hard to make sure it continues to bend toward justice. TOTAL CASES LOCAL OFFICE 8 LOCATIONS CLOSED IN 2018 $ MORE THAN 27m IN SERVICES PROVIDED PROBLEM TYPE BY CLOSED CASES 4 5 Development & Communications Report n 2018, LSA increased its non-LSC addition to the new website, LSA visitors each month. Such continued Ifunding to a new level of over $1 publishes an electronic quarterly posts as Facebook Live Informative million dollars. This increase was a publication, The Advocate, for donors Sessions, Advocate of the Month (which result of LSA successfully creating grant and alumni. LSA also publishes an highlight specific attorneys who do projects and obtaining new foundation Annual Report that was distributed exceptional work), Veterans Civil Legal awards. These awards have allowed to members of the Alabama State Bar Clinics, and stories highlighting various LSA to increase the number of staff and funders. community partnerships, have helped attorneys who are non-LSC funded in the growth of followers and coverage to 19 or 40%. Although the federally Last year, the Alabama Civil Justice across platforms as well as visibility Foundation conducted a Social Return funded LSC grant provides 84% of REPORT ANNUAL 2018 with local, statewide, and national news Jaffe Pickett LSA’s funding revenue, LSA’s goal is on Investment study that concluded for media outlets. As the firm continues Deputy Director to continue to work with our local, every $1 invested in Alabama’s Legal to grow and promote the interest of state and private partners to ensure Aid services, providing legal assistance the community through promotion of a diversified and sustainable funding to Alabama residents in civil cases, $12 various outreach projects and stories base. in financial benefits is returned to and of advocacy, our social media presence benefits communities throughout will continue to expand and build To attain this goal, LSA has adopted a the state. momentum. three prong approach to development: — — THE WORK With continued support, LSA will • Strengthening community continue to fill the justice gap and 2018 Communication Highlights LEGAL SERVICES ALABAMA LEGAL SERVICES partnerships and grantor relations; expand the critical services provided to the almost 1 million people living in • Developing grant applications to poverty in Alabama. support LSA’s priorities of client NEW WEBSITE RELEASED needs; Since 2017, LSA’s Social Media presence www.LEGALSERVICESALABAMA.org and visibility has soared—increasing • Improving communication to increase online engagement and broad FOLLOWERS ON marketing with an increased social community impact statewide. According WEBSITE VISITORS media presence. to web analytics, in 2018 alone, LSA’s EACH MONTH Facebook site reached a total of 51, In support of enhancing its 858 people! We have a combined 4,370 communications capacity, LSA followers across Facebook, Twitter and FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN launched a new website www. LinkedIn. Since the rebranding of the LSA, TWELVE ARE RETURNED legalservicesalabama.org. Icons for organizational website in 2018, LSA Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have receives an average of nearly 9,000 TO THE COMMUNITY IN BENEFITS been added to the website page. In page views and approximately 4,000 6 7 Anniston Office Anniston, Alabama —— Open since 1978 Although 2019 marks the 15 year Helping to Protect the Income of Elderly Clients anniversary for Legal Services Alabama, the legal aid work of its ur client, Mrs. Amelia S., had a Omonthly income of less than $1,200. preceding organizations spans over She did not check her bank statement for potential fraud charges until one year 2018 ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL 2018 50 years. Legal Services Alabama after her debit card number was stolen and fraudulent charges started to be made for DirecTV and Amazon Prime. When came into existence in 2004 with Amelia first discovered these, she had lost more than $700 in fraudulent charges. Our the merger of three existing legal client went to her Credit Union, which called DirecTV, and was informed it was a “business account.” These charges ($40 per — service organizations —Legal Services month) were reversed. Our client’s debit — THE WORK card was terminated. Our advocate in the Anniston Office referred our client to the LEGAL SERVICES ALABAMA LEGAL SERVICES Corporation of Alabama, Legal Services local police department for identity theft of Metro Alabama, and Legal Services since the IP Address of the fraudsters could be traced. The police department promised our client that her credit union would issue of North-Central Alabama. Our local a full refund. offices continue to achieve great things Funding Source East Alabama Area Agency on Aging David Webster Anniston Managing Attorney for the underserved in Alabama. 8 9 Birmingham Office Dothan Office Birmingham, Alabama —— Open since 1977 Dothan, Alabama —— Open since 1978 ur client, Merry H., a 70-year-old to the nephew’s attorney. The attorney Owoman, had moved in with her immediately responded that he had sister-in-law. Merry provided supportive been instructed by his client to put all services to her sister-in-law for more of Merry’s property in the garage, and than five years before her sister-in-law it was available for the client to access went into a nursing home and later right away. Merry’s possessions were died. Upon her death, Merry’s nephew intact, and she was able to get all of wanted her to vacate the property. She her belongings! With the help of LSA, was sent a letter requesting that she Merry is currently on the waiting list leave the property, with the threat of for an apartment at a local retirement eviction. Merry got what possessions complex. she could fit in her small car, along with REPORT ANNUAL 2018 her cat, and moved out. She left her Funding source personal property behind.