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West Virginia’s largest nonprofit legal services organization is receiving a nearly $433,000 grant that will go toward developing artificial intelligence tools to help residents easily access and find legal information pertinent to their needs.
The grant for Legal Aid of West Virginia — a statewide nonprofit that provides free legal services and advocacy for all residents, especially those who are low-income — totals $432,900 and is a Technical Initiative Grant from the national Legal Services Corporation, according to a news release. The award is one of 31 granted this year to legal organizations across 22 states, which total up to $5.9 million.
The money, according to the release, will help the team at Legal Aid create “A Common Legal Help AI Model.” It will combine information from leading law websites for commonly asked questions regarding the legal process and laws, based largely on Stanford University’s Legal Design Lab.
The aim of the project, per the release, is to increase access to legal assistance while making the information more understandable and user-friendly for those who need it.
“We must ensure every American has access to a fair justice system, regardless of income or background, and Legal Aid of West Virginia is an absolutely invaluable organization in this mission,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., in the release. “I’m pleased they are receiving this well-deserved funding to support technology innovation and modernization to better help low-income West Virginians navigate the legal system. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to boost Legal Aid’s critical efforts.”
The Legal Services Corporation is an independent nonprofit that was founded through an act of Congress in 1974 with the goal of providing financial assistance to legal organizations serving low-income people across the country. Since its founding, the corporation has awarded 923 grants totaling more than $91 million toward technology projects for local and regional legal aid groups. Those funds, according to the release, have been successful in enhancing cybersecurity measures, building educational programs, strengthening general program capacity and supporting the work of no-cost legal representation for individuals.
“[The Legal Services Corporation] is proud to promote innovative solutions to the access to justice crisis, including supporting legal aid organizations’ efforts to embrace useful technology tools,” said LSC President Ron Flagg in the release. “The Technology Initiative Grants support projects that improve the delivery of legal services and information to people who need support navigating serious civil legal problems that impact their housing, debt, employment or family stability.”
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