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Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Workshop

Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Workshop. February 11, 2013. LSAC Basics. 11 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

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Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Workshop

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  1. Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Workshop February 11, 2013

  2. LSAC Basics • 11 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

  3. Eligibility for LSAC Grants • 501(c)(3) status • Equal Opportunity Statement • Board 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

  4. Available FY14-15 Funding • 15% 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

  5. LSAC Funding Priorities • LSAC 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

  6. LSAC Priorities1. Ensure Base Level of Access • Important 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

  7. LSAC PrioritiesII. Coordination w/ Other Providers • LSAC wants to see concrete examples of coordination with other programs (other legal services, law libraries and social service providers) • Limiting duplication of services • Improve awareness of services in community and quality of referrals • Focus of Question 11

  8. LSAC PrioritiesIII. Civil Legal Services Infrastructure • Technology 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

  9. New Questions in Application • Question 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

  10. Interview Process • 45 minute interview with LSAC panel • All LSAC members can submit questions in advance of the interview • Interview should include ED and/or primary staff and Board Chair • Can attend by phone • Dates: April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27

  11. Interview Pre-Screening It 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 problems • Significant departure from historical case closed data • Excessive staff turnover • Application meets none of the LSAC priorities

  12. Important Reminders • Appendix 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

  13. Timeline • Applications 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

  14. New Grants Policy • Judicial Branch has a new internal auditor who has drafted first formal grants policy • Effective with FY14-15 grants • Major 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

  15. Other Projects • LSAC 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

  16. Contact Staff Anytime with Questions or Concerns Bridget Gernander bridget.gernander@courts.state.mn.us 651-284-4379 Everyone should be signed up to receive updates at www.mncourts.gov/lsac

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