The District Of Columbia Bar Foundation

Programs: Access to justice grants. In 2007, the dc bar foundation began awarding grants under the access to justice grants program (atj grants) when the council of the district of columbia designated the dc bar foundation as administrator of these funds. Atj grants support organizations that provide legal assistance in three areas: (a) underserved areas in dc; (b) housing-related matters; and (c) to support a shared legal services interpreter bank. Since 2007, over $30 million has been awarded to provide critical legal assistance to dc's poor and underserved.

private and bank settlement fund grants. The dc bar foundation's private grants program, which began in 1978 shortly after when the dc bar foundation was founded, has provided over $25 million in critical operating support to dc legal aid providers. These private grants provide unrestricted funds support to help cover overhead costs, such as rent and client record databases, which are not always covered by other grants these organizations receive. These grants are funded by private contributions and revenue received through the interest on lawyers trust accounts (iolta) program, a program created by the district of columbia court of appeals in 1985.

loan repayment assistance program. The dc bar foundation provides loan repayment assistance to qualified attorneys working for an eligible employer in dc in order to: (1) increase the number of experienced, skilled lawyers working on behalf of low-income dc residents; and (2) assist dc poverty lawyers who have incurred significant educational debt in obtaining their law degree. The dc bar foundation's loan repayment assistance program (lrap) provides one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans, of up to $12,000 per year, to qualified attorneys so they can continue providing exceptional legal assistance to low-income dc residents despite high educational debt.