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 Gernanderbridget.gernander@courts.state.mn

.us651-284-4379

Everyone should be signed up to receive updates at www.mncourts.gov/lsac