www.loubar.org 8 Louisville Bar Briefs 416 W. MUHAMMAD ALI BLVD., STE. 300 • LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 • (502) 584-1254 • YOURLEGALAID.ORG It's Pro Bono Month... CELEBRATE BY JOINING LEGAL AID SOCIETY’S VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM! Scan the QR code or visit YourLegalAid.org/volunteer For more than a century, Legal Aid Society has stood shoulder to shoulder with Kentuckians in moments of profound crisis. Every day, Legal Aid Society lawyers help families facing eviction keep their homes, protect survivors of domestic violence, secure benefits for veterans, and give thousands of our neighbors a second chance to rebuild their lives. This essential work often goes unnoticed. There are no headlines when a child remains safely housed, when a veteran finally receives their benefits, or when someone gets the fresh start they’ve worked so hard to earn. But for the thousands of Kentuckians who walk through Legal Aid Society’s doors each year, that work means everything. It is the difference between stability and homelessness, between safety and danger, between opportunity and despair. And now, that lifeline is at risk. Legal Aid Society is bracing for a $541,664 reduction in federal funding - a cut that would directly affect the work of six dedicated staff members, legal help for 861 clients, and support for 832 children whose stability depends on their caregivers receiving legal assistance. Let me be clear: these aren’t just numbers. These are families in our courts, our neighborhoods, and our city. When Legal Aid Society loses funding, people lose protection. Evictions rise. Survivors face danger alone. And those trying to rebuild after incarceration, job loss, or family upheaval lose their footing. Louisville’s legal community has always stepped up when the need is greatest. I’m asking you to STAND WITH LEGAL AID SOCIETY again and make a gift to the 2025 Justice for All Campaign. Your support matters now more than ever. Below this letter is a snapshot of Legal Aid Society’s impact over the last year. Behind each number is a story of hope, safety, and justice made real. If you’re able, I invite you to renew your gift or consider an increase to help fill the funding gap. But just as importantly, I hope you’ll stand with Legal Aid Society as an advocate - help us remind our colleagues and our community that equal justice under law only works when everyone has access to it. Justice isn’t inevitable. It’s something we build together. With gratitude, STAND WITH LEGAL AID SOCIETY: A LIFELINE OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE by Mike Abate, Chair, Justice for All Campaign MIKE ABATE Partner, Kaplan Johnson Abate & Bird LLP Chair, Justice for All Campaign Client Impact • 4,473 Kentuckians served last year facing civil legal crises. • 1,052 households helped with housing issues — including evictions, unsafe conditions, and homelessness prevention. • 4,580 children indirectly supported through legal advocacy for their caregivers. • 861 clients at risk of losing services if federal funding is cut. Program Highlights • 1,229 individuals received representation through the Domestic Violence Advocacy Program. • $1,638,259 in confirmed benefits recovered or avoided by our advocacy. • 465 clients removed legal barriers to employment and housing through criminal record expungement. • 355 veterans served so far this year through the Veterans Legal Assistance Program. Return on Investment • For every $1 invested, Legal Aid Society delivers approximately $7 in economic benefits to the community. • Legal Aid Society’s $541,664 federal funding cut would result in over $3.7 million in lost economic impact. What's at Risk • Loss of 6 staff positions, each tied to specialized legal services. • Reduction in critical services for housing, benefits, family safety, and reentry programs. • Hundreds of Kentuckians left without representation in eviction court. Data reported above is for the time period January 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025 Stand with Legal Aid Society, because justice depends on all of us. LEARN MORE -- YOURLEGALAID.ORG/STANDWITH
