Direct Services Programs
California’s direct services programs are those nonprofit legal organizations that provide legal services directly to low-income Californians, Californians with disabilities, and older Californians. These organizations are defined in Cal B&P code 6213(a) and receive funding from the State Bar of California’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. However, there are many other legal nonprofits in California that do not receive State Bar IOLTA funding, but otherwise are members of the broader legal aid community. LAAC has included some of those here.
Support Centers
California’s support centers, also called “back-up centers,” are nonprofits funded by the State Bar of California to provide technical assistance, training, advocacy, and other expertise and support to the community of direct legal services providers. They are defined in Cal B&P code 6213(b).