Virginia Law Foundation

PROMOTING THROUGH PHILANTHROPY THE RULE OF LAW, ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION.

THE VIRGINIA LAW FOUNDATION MADE GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF PROJECTS THAT (1) PROVIDE SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE; (2) PROVIDE LAW-RELATED EDUCATION; (3) PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULE OF LAW IN VIRGINIA; (4) PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE UNDERSERVED; AND (5) PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICE INTERNSHIPS FOR VIRGINIA LAW STUDENTS.SEE DESCRIPTIONS ON SCHEDULE O:APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW - MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP - $25,000THE APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW (ASL) CONTINUES THEIR MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP WITH BALLAD HEALTH, AN INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM SERVING SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. THIS PARTNERSHIP MAINTAINS THE GOALS OF IMPROVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR MEDICAL PATIENTS WITH UNMET LEGAL NEEDS AND ADDRESSING HEALTHCARE DEMANDS ATTRIBUTABLE TO OR EXACERBATED BY UNMET LEGAL NEEDS. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF LICENSED ATTORNEYS, ASL STUDENTS WILL PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO BALLAD'S LOW-INCOME PATIENTS, WHICH GIVES THE STUDENTS AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM, VIRGINIA TECH'S PAMPLIN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS WILL CONTRIBUTE ANALYTICS TO MEASURE THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS.BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES - FREE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS - $25,000BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES IS A CHARITABLE LEGAL AID PROGRAM COMMITTED TO ELIMINATING POVERTY-BASED INEQUITIES IN THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF THE SHENANDOAH AND ROANOKE VALLEYS. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF LEGAL INFORMATION, LEGAL ADVICE AND BRIEF SERVICES, AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN THE CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY, NAMELY, THE COUNTIES OF ROCKINGHAM, AUGUSTA, PAGE, HIGHLAND, AND THE CITIES OF HARRISONBURG, STAUNTON, AND WAYNESBORO. THE PROJECT WILL TARGET SENIORS WITH CRITICAL LEGAL NEEDS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION CASES.CANCERLINC - ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR LATINO AND SPANISH-SPEAKING CANCER PATIENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA - $10,000CANCERLINC PROVIDES ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR LOW-INCOME CANCER PATIENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE ATTORNEYS, FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHERS TO HELP THEM ADDRESS THE NON-MEDICAL PROBLEMS THEY FACE AS A RESULT OF THEIR CANCER DIAGNOSIS MEDICAL DEBT, EVICTION, BANKRUPTCY, EMPLOYMENT INSECURITY, AND SIMILAR CHALLENGES. CANCER IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG HISPANICS AND LATINOS, AND DUE TO DISPROPORTIONATE POVERTY AND OTHER HEALTHCARE BARRIERS, HISPANICS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO CANCER INEQUALITIES. IN 2021, CANCERLINC CREATED THEIR FIRST-EVER BILINGUAL LANGUAGE RESOURCES, AND THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF BILINGUAL RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO BETTER SUPPORT UNDERSERVED LATINO CANCER PATIENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA. IN ADDITION, CANCERLINC WILL BE LAUNCHING A TARGETED COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORT, INCREASING ACCESS TO PRO-BONO LEGAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THESE PATIENTS COULD NOT AFFORD OTHERWISE.CAPITAL AREA IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITION - VIRGINIA JUSTICE PROJECT - $20,000THE CAPITAL AREA IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITION (CAIR) STRIVES TO ENSURE EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANT ADULTS AND CHILDREN AT RISK OF DETENTION AND DEPORTATION IN THE CAPITAL REGION AND BEYOND THROUGH DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION, KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS, IMPACT LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, AND THE ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING OF INTERN ATTORNEYS. THE VIRGINIA JUSTICE PROJECT ENSURES THAT PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL IN VIRGINIA ARE EDUCATED REGARDING THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMES. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AN INDIGENT NONCITIZEN IN VIRGINIA WILL HAVE ACCESS TO DEFENSE COUNSEL COMPETENT TO ADVISE THEM ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR CASE. DURING THE EIGHTH YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM, CAIR WILL TRAIN 600 VIRGINIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS THROUGH TWO VIRTUAL TRAININGS, PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN WRITTEN MATERIALS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, AND EXECUTE NECESSARY TRAININGS TO SUPPORT THE 315 VIRGINIA PUBLIC DEFENDER ATTORNEYS IN THE 25 PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES AND THE 2,500 COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS IN VIRGINIA. THIS PROJECT WILL IMPACT MORE THAN 3,000 INDIGENT NON-CITIZEN VIRGINIA RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.CHARLOTTESVILLE ALBEMARLE BAR ASSOCIATION - VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM - $12,500THE CHARLOTTESVILLE ALBEMARLE BAR ASSOCIATION'S VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM (VLP) IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AND COMMUNITY-RESPONSIVE PROJECT THAT PROVIDES A STRUCTURE FOR ATTORNEYS TO DELIVER HIGH-IMPACT FREE LEGAL SERVICES THAT TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THEIR NEIGHBORS WHILE DEEPENING ATTORNEYS' PRE-EXISTING COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE-SEEKING WORK. OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THE VLP WILL TAKE A NOVEL APPROACH THAT FOSTERS INNOVATIVE, TRANSFORMATIVE, AND REINVIGORATING PRO BONO PROJECTS, ALLOWING ATTORNEYS TO RESPOND MORE READILY TO UNEXPECTED AND UNSUPPORTED COMMUNITY CRISES. BY CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES THAT MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY RESPONSIVENESS ALONGSIDE PARTICIPATING LAWYERS' PASSIONS AND TALENTS, THE VLP WILL AMPLIFY ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY FACILITATING UNIQUE AND MEANINGFUL LEGAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ATTORNEYS, THEIR CLIENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY.DRIVE-TO-WORK - RESTORING DRIVING PRIVILEGES FOR UNDERSERVED MARKETS - $25,000DRIVE-TO-WORK (DTW) ASSISTS LOW INCOME AND PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED PERSONS TO RESTORE THEIR DRIVING PRIVILEGES SO THEY CAN DRIVE TO WORK, MAINTAIN A JOB, AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES AT-LARGE. MANY DTW CLIENTS FACE EXTREME CHALLENGES DUE TO RE-ENTRY EMPLOYMENT ISSUES, AND MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED JOB LOSS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SUPPORT FROM THE VIRGINIA LAW FOUNDATION WILL ALLOW DTW TO OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CLIENTS HAVING DIFFICULTY PAYING FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS TO GETTING THEIR LICENSE RESTORED AND WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INQUIRIES, APPLICANTS, CLIENTS, AND DRIVER'S LICENSES RESTORED BY 10%.FAIRFAX LAW FOUNDATION - NORTHERN VIRGINIA PRO BONO LAW CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PROGRAM - $25,000THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA PRO BONO LAW CENTER OF THE FAIRFAX LAW FOUNDATION PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO POVERTY AND LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PROGRAM. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, VOLUNTEER LAWYERS TRAVEL TO PARTNERING SITES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OR MEET VIRTUALLY TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED. DUE TO THEIR WORK WITH LONG-STANDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE FAIRFAX LAW FOUNDATION BROADENS THIS PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE DENIED ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICE BY ENABLING PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TO MEET WITH POTENTIAL POPULATIONS SEEKING LEGAL AID IN THEIR FACILITIES. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LAW CENTER AND EACH OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SITES IS CRUCIAL AS IT HELPS THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PROGRAM REACH ITS INTENDED BENEFICIARIES AND ALLEVIATES THE BURDEN ON LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO MEET WITH A PRO BONO ATTORNEY.FREEKIND - OFFRAMPS PROGRAM - $30,000FREEKIND WORKS TO PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORT THOSE IT IMPACTS ON THEIR JOURNEY TO FREEDOM. THEIR OFFRAMPS PROGRAM IMPROVES ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BY STRENGTHENING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIPS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFY VICTIMS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNIDENTIFIED OR MISIDENTIFIED, AND BY ADVOCATING FOR ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING THROUGH RESTORATIVE SERVICES RATHER THAN INCREASED INCARCERATION. WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE VIRGINIA LAW FOUNDATION, FREEKIND WILL ADD A THIRD CASE MANAGER TO THEIR TEAM, WHICH WILL EMPOWER THE ORGANIZATION TO REACH 65 ADDITIONAL SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AT LEAST ONE OR MORE NEW JAILS. THEY WILL ALSO DEVELOP PROTOCOLS THAT WILL REDUCE HARM AND ENHANCE EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS, GIVING THEM ACCESS TO SERVICES.