The White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (LAIR), overseen by the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ), has been actively working this year to enhance collaboration among 28 federal agencies with the aim of advancing access to justice. LAIR's mission is to "improve coordination among Federal programs, so that programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes," including broadening access to legal services.
As part of its mandate, LAIR has developed an online resource designed to simplify the search for federal funding opportunities for providers of legal services, including those offering nonlawyer assistance. In addition, it has conducted an educational webinar providing training on how to access federal funding for legal aid.
In recent months, LAIR has also initiated three committees tasked with carrying out its work towards fulfilling its mission. It also hosted the first of three annual plenary convenings of member agency representatives.
Many federal agencies offer funding that supports legal and related services. These funds help address critical needs for legal help in communities throughout the country while advancing federal objectives. However, prospective applicants often find it challenging or time-consuming to navigate multiple sites in search of these opportunities.
To address this issue, ATJ launched a new LAIR resource in April that serves as a hub for accessing funding opportunities across federal agencies that can support legal assistance. This online tool aims to simplify the process for prospective grant applicants seeking federal funding information.
LAIR is also engaging with the community through webinars aimed at ensuring broad access to its new federal funding online resource and assisting organizations in understanding how to apply for and obtain federal funding. A webinar held in April saw 450 attendees and offered guidance on navigating the federal funding landscape.
This year, LAIR launched three committees designed to formalize the Roundtable’s structure and advance its directives. The committees focus on simplification of agency programs and services; data generation and research related to public interactions with federal agencies; and innovation to support agency innovations that expand access to justice.
On April 10, LAIR held its first plenary convening of the year, co-chaired by Deputy Counsel to the President Tyeesha Dixon and ATJ Director Rachel Rossi. The meeting saw more than 60 federal agency partners discussing LAIR’s plans for 2024 and the activities of its three committees.
LAIR's work continues to gain momentum in its mission to expand access to justice across government. Its recent efforts are focused on breaking down barriers to accessing federal resources, ensuring that no community is left behind in accessing available assistance.
LAIR is a collaboration of 28 federal agencies, co-chaired by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and White House Counsel Ed Siskel. It is mandated to improve coordination among Federal programs and increase the availability of meaningful access to justice for individuals and families, regardless of wealth or status.