In the fall of 2014, for the first time in its 40-year history, the Legal Services Corporation turned to nation’s largest law firms for financial support. The cash-strapped organization asked big firms to commit as much as $250,000 or more to support its mission of funding civil legal services programs for the poor.
So far, only 19 law firms have agreed to contribute. In total, they have committed $2,507,200, with most of the pledges to be paid over five years. (See chart below.) The biggest pledge came from DLA Piper, which has promised to give $266,500. Six firms are contributing at least $250,000 to LSC, which is the nation’s primary single funder of legal aid programs.
