Advisory Committee Advisory Committee (LSAC) (LSAC) Grant Applicant Grant Applicant Workshop Workshop February 11, 2013
Jan 12, 2016
Legal Services Advisory Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Grant Applicant WorkshopWorkshopFebruary 11, 2013
LSAC BasicsLSAC Basics11 members appointed by the
Supreme Court◦7 attorneys and 4 non-attorneys
Makes grants on a two year cycle that matches the legislative funding biennium
Grants can either be for general operating funds or for specific projects
Eligibility for LSAC GrantsEligibility for LSAC Grants501(c)(3) statusEqual Opportunity StatementBoard of Directors with at least one
attorney and at least one client eligible member (200% of poverty at time of appointment)
Provides service to eligible clients (200% of poverty) with the LSAC funding
Service can be legal services, ADR, law related education, or programs to enhance the administration of justice
Available FY14-15 FundingAvailable FY14-15 Funding15% of Legislative Appropriation
◦$1,520,850 current annual base budget, but do not know what the legislature will pass this year
Attorney Registration Fees◦$1,800,000 per year
IOLTA◦$775,000 per year – 10% decrease
while we use the last of the reserve
LSAC Funding PrioritiesLSAC Funding PrioritiesLSAC discussion of funding
priorities informed by new Supreme Court charge to the committee
Applications may be funded that meet one or more the priorities; applicants that meet all the priorities have higher likelihood of full funding
LSAC will not do across the board cuts
LSAC PrioritiesLSAC Priorities1. Ensure Base Level of 1. Ensure Base Level of AccessAccessImportant that LSAC understand
how your service fits in to overall civil legal services delivery structure
Many questions give you an opportunity to describe the work, evaluation of services and client impact
Question 6 specifically gets at reach of services outside of community where your office is located
LSAC PrioritiesLSAC PrioritiesII. Coordination w/ Other II. Coordination w/ Other ProvidersProvidersLSAC wants to see concrete
examples of coordination with other programs (other legal services, law libraries and social service providers)
Limiting duplication of servicesImprove awareness of services in
community and quality of referralsFocus of Question 11
LSAC PrioritiesLSAC PrioritiesIII. Civil Legal Services III. Civil Legal Services InfrastructureInfrastructureTechnology and other approaches
to support integrates civil legal services infrastructure in different program types
Could be general operating for ongoing work or a project request for something new
Highlight technology and other innovating programming in Question 2
New Questions in New Questions in ApplicationApplicationQuestion 4: Requesting
information about familiarity with MN-CABS report◦available at www.mncourts.gov/lsac
Question 10: Asks for any outcome measures your organization may be tracking
Technology costs broken out as separate line item in Appendix 1
Interview ProcessInterview Process45 minute interview with LSAC panelAll LSAC members can submit
questions in advance of the interviewInterview should include ED and/or
primary staff and Board ChairCan attend by phoneDates: April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
Interview Pre-ScreeningInterview Pre-ScreeningIt is possible that not every applicant will get an interview. Staff has been directed by LSAC to screen applications and flag potential issues for the committee, including: Inactive status with AG’s Charity Division Indicators of financial problemsSignificant departure from historical case closed data Excessive staff turnoverApplication meets none of the LSAC priorities
Important RemindersImportant RemindersAppendix 1 Worksheets are closely
scrutinized – must use forms provided
Do not alter the data spreadsheet by deleting columns that don’t apply to your program
For those who provide other services, use Question 17 to provide other data – important to see that you measure your services
TimelineTimelineApplications due March 15, 2013,
including data spreadsheet – no extensions will be granted
Interviews on Fridays and Saturdays in April – staff will contact to schedule and will need flexibility
Grant allocation meeting tentatively scheduled for June 14, 2013 ◦Open to public, but no questions will be
taken
New Grants PolicyNew Grants PolicyJudicial Branch has a new internal
auditor who has drafted first formal grants policy
Effective with FY14-15 grantsMajor changes
◦Financial reconciliation at least quarterly, which means a report from your financial reporting system or other documentation of expenses reflected on invoice
◦Site visits for all grants over $250,000◦No alcohol can be purchased with state
funds
Other ProjectsOther ProjectsLSAC subcommittee working to
create outcome measures that would be collected starting with cases closed after January 1, 2014
Technology committee looking at potential technology investments; RFP will be issued separate from grant cycle when we are ready to move forward
Contact Staff Anytime Contact Staff Anytime with Questions or with Questions or ConcernsConcernsBridget [email protected]
n.us651-284-4379
Everyone should be signed up to receive updates at www.mncourts.gov/lsac