To achieve the goals articulated in its most recent strategic plan, the Lawyers Trust Fund’s board of directors have approved the following strategic initiatives. These initiatives are being implemented by a combination of staff, consultants, and representatives of grantee organizations.
Access Initiative
The Access Initiative is a major effort to reimagine a comprehensive, coordinated “front end” of the legal aid system, with the goal of making it easier for people who need help to obtain legal information and assistance. A consulting team from Stout led by Neil Steinkamp provides project management, community outreach, research, data analysis, facilitation and design services. The Access Initiative Steering Committee is made up of representatives of seven organizations that have high-volume interactions with the public via telephone, internet, and/or chatbot: CARPLS Legal Aid, Illinois Court Help/AOIC, Illinois Legal Aid Online, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Law Center for Better Housing/Rentervention, Legal Aid Chicago, and Prairie State Legal Services. At the end of the 18-month design process, the goal is to have a blueprint for building a new, coordinated, multi-channel access system.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative
There is a broad consensus that generative artificial intelligence will have a transformative impact on the work of advocates seeking to help low-income individuals solve legal problems. To help legal aid organizations take advantage of opportunities and address challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence, the AI Initiative offers educational programs, targeted technical assistance, and AI resources to LTF grantees. The AI Initiative is led by senior consultant Lisa Colpoys. Lisa is a national leader working at the intersection of technology and access to justice, and is the former executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online. If you work for an LTF grantee organization and are interested in learning more about the AI Initiative, you can email Lisa at lisa@ltf.org.
Debt Help Illinois
Tens of thousands of Illinois families face crushing levels of debt each year due to job loss, medical bills, or other unexpected financial emergencies. Debt collection matters make up a significant share of the cases filed in Illinois courts each year, but legal aid programs can only help a tiny fraction of low-income Illinoisans being sued for debt. Debt Help Illinois is a new tool that will offer information and assistance related to the intersecting legal and financial aspects of debt-related problems. The Debt Help Illinois pilot project is a partnership between Illinois Legal Aid Online and Working Credit, with consultant Katie Hennessey serving as project manager on behalf of LTF.
Illinois Racial Justice Alliance
The mission of the Illinois Racial Justice Alliance (IRJA) is a statewide racial justice initiative to support legal aid leaders, staff, and organizations in Illinois. This initiative advances the incorporation of a race equity lens in legal aid programs’ advocacy, as well as in internal organizational culture and operations. The IRJA is led by a 12-member steering committee made up of legal aid staff from around the state. Independent consultants Bonnie Allen and Janerick Holmes support the steering committee and help facilitate the work of the IRJA.
Program on Organizational Health & Sustainability
The Lawyers Trust Fund’s grantees face a wide range of organizational development challenges, including staff recruitment, retention, training, and wellness; diversity, equity, and inclusion; organizational growth and change-management; leadership development; effective governance and board recruitment; and many others. The Program on Organizational Health & Sustainability (POHS) offers consultations, guidance, training, and resources to the leadership of LTF grantee organizations to help address these challenges. The POHS is led by senior consultant Shelley A. Davis, who has a long and distinguished career as a leader in the not-for-profit sector.