Following the release of House 1 by Governor Patrick earlier today, Boston
Bar Association President Donald R. Frederico issued a statement thanking
Governor Patrick for level funding the Massachusetts Legal Assistance
Corporation line item for legal aid to poor people:
"In an environment where very painful choices are being made, the Boston Bar
Association is heartened to know that Governor Patrick and his administration
understand the critical importance of level state funding for legal services to
the poor. Massachusetts legal services organizations, which provide lawyers to
low income families and individuals in cases where basic human needs are at
stake, typically depend on funding from three principal sources: state budgetary
allocations, private donations, and Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA).
Because of the downturn in the economy and record low interest rates, IOLTA
revenue has experienced a precipitous decline -- at the same time the need
for legal services has been rising. Every dollar lost through IOLTA means less
money to support legal services, fewer legal service attorneys to address the
needs of the poor, and less access to justice for those who cannot afford to
hire lawyers. We hope and trust that the women and men of the Massachusetts
legislature will recognize this year, as they have in years past, that the state
needs to continue its support for legal services in order to preserve poor
people's rights to equal justice under the law."