Native American

California Rural Legal Assistance: Technical Innovations for Language Access

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:52:53 +0000

California Rural Legal Assistance: Technical Innovations for Language Access sierra-chacona… Mon, 07/14/2025 - 15:52

Learn how California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., integrates human-centered technology into its interpretation and translation services to enhance language access for rural Californians.

Technical Innovations for Language Access

Grantees will learn how California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA):

Leverages technology, paid translators and interpreters, community partners, and staff to reduce language barriers for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, Indigenous, and residents with limited English proficiency in rural California.
Ensures appropriate technical support for hybrid meetings so interpreters can focus on linguistic work; and
Hosts a multilingual training program for rural Californians to gain the necessary skills to become CRLA-contracted interpreters.

Hear from CRLA Language Justice Initiative staff members Alena Uliasz and Cecilia De La Cruz Vergara about the program's technological, human-centered approaches to language access by clicking below to read more.

View Infographic

"Since we recognize that accessible communication is essential to equitable legal services, we've invested in technology that blends the human expertise with technology."

Cecilia De La Cruz Vergara

Associate, Language Justice Initiative, CRLA

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Technology Demographics Native American

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:19:57 +0000

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities sierra-chacona… Tue, 04/22/2025 - 11:19

In this case study, learn how Michigan Indian Legal Services establishes trust within tribal communities by maintaining an active in-person presence.

Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

Grantees will learn how Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS):

1. Builds trust and relationships with tribal nations through consistent in-person presence,

2. Maximizes its capacity to serve as many constituents as possible, and

3. Navigates and overcomes service delivery challenges.

Hear from Cameron Fraser, MILS's Executive Director, about lessons learned and replicable practices for LSC grantees serving Indigenous populations.

View Case Study

"Having coworkers be involved in the [Native communities] and a part of the families helps a lot and ensures that we are providing a competent place for people to get legal services."

Cameron Fraser

Executive Director, MILS

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Outreach COVID-19 Native American Rural

Michigan

How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:28:13 +0000

How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations sierra-chacona… Wed, 09/25/2024 - 15:28

In this case study, learn how Oklahoma Indian Legal Services builds trust and relationships with tribal nations to deliver legal services.

Ensuring Tribal Justice: How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

Grantees will learn how Oklahoma Indian Legal Services (OILS):

1. Builds trust and relationships with tribal nations through consistent in-person presence,
2. Navigates challenges and barriers to service delivery with cultural humility, and
3. Uses innovative service delivery methods like the Disaster Navigator bus.

Hear from OILS Executive Director Stephanie Hudson about lessons learned and replicable practices for LSC grantees serving Indigenous populations.

Read Case Study

“Over half of OILS's staff are members of tribal nations, and this diverse team helps OILS navigate the complexities of the tribal landscape."

Stephanie Hudson

Executive Director, Oklahoma Indian Legal Services

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Outreach Disaster Grant Disasters Demographics Native American Rural

Capital Fundraising Campaign

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:50:55 +0000

Capital Fundraising Campaign sierra-chacona… Thu, 08/08/2024 - 10:50

Learn about capital fundraising and grassroots outreach with Anishinable Legal Services in this project brief.

Anishinabe Legal Services: Capital Fundraising Campaign

Grantees will learn how Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS):

1. Executed a capital fundraising campaign to construct a modern headquarters;

2. Advertised capital fundraising through grassroots outreach efforts; and

3. Improved the quality of legal aid to Reservation communities through its new headquarters.

Learn from ALS about how its capital fundraising campaign for the new headquarters improved client services, increased staff morale, and fulfilled a major objective of its strategic plan.

View Project Brief

“It is our belief that this [new headquarters] has not only created a much more accessible, safe, and inviting space for our low-income Native American community members, but it has also increased our efficiency and allowed us to serve greater numbers of clients at higher levels of service.”

Cody Nelson

Executive Director, Anishinabe Legal Services

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Outreach Strategic Planning Native American Grant Program

Minnesota

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:24:26 +0000

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates sierra-chacona… Thu, 08/08/2024 - 10:24

In this case study, learn how the Montana Legal Services Association expanded its legal aid capacity in rural and tribal communities through the Montana Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project.

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay

Grantees will learn how the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA):

1. Built the Tribal Advocacy Incubator (TAI) Project to expand legal aid capacity;

2. Developed an education program to recruit, train, and mentor tribal lay advocates; and

3. Addressed gaps in training and quality representation by standardizing practices.

Hear from Kathryn Seaton, Tribal Law Attorney at MLSA, and Valerie Falls Down, TAI Project Coordinator, about partnering with tribal courts to recruit, train, mentor, and support tribal lay advocates to provide legal assistance to low-income Native Americans.

Read Case Study

“The Montana Legal Services Association’s Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project originated with an understanding: Montana’s legal community is small, and the number of people who practice tribal law is even smaller.”

Kathryn Seaton

Tribal Law Attorney, Montana Legal Services Association

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Outreach Strategic Planning Training COVID-19 Native American Rural

Montana

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 14:49:59 +0000

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers sierra-chacona… Mon, 07/29/2024 - 10:49

Learn about how Alaska ��˶�� built and implemented the Community Justice Worker Program, an initiative to train community members to address their neighbors' legal needs.

Alaska Legal Services: Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Grantees will learn how Alaska ��˶�� (ALSC):

1. Expanded delivery of legal assistance and advice

2. Established strategic and collaborative partnership

3. Recruited and trained community members

Hear from Nikole Nelson, former Executive Director of ALSC and founding Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Justice, about how the organization conducted outreach, recruitment, training, and case handling for its Community Justice Workers.

View Case Study

"Community Justice Workers are an integral part of ALSC’s efforts to reach clients in the most remote areas of Alaska. Whereas most legal aid and pro bono attorneys operate in urban areas, CJWs often live and work in rural and tribal Alaska."

Nikole Nelson

Chief Executive Officer, Frontline Justice

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Outreach Strategic Planning Training Native American Rural Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF)

Alaska

LSC Task Forces

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 18:33:46 +0000

LSC Task Forces admin Tue, 04/13/2021 - 14:33

LSC's Task Forces

LSC’s task forces bring together leaders and experts from a variety of fields to address urgent issues, like disasters and the opioid and eviction crises, that relate to access to justice. Task forces also share best practices for legal aid providers serving key populations, like veterans.

Opioid Task Force

LSC’s Opioid Task Force developed guidance on how legal aid can work with medical, judicial, law enforcement, and community partners to address the opioid crisis.

LSC Opioid Task Force

Veterans Task Force

LSC’s Veterans Task Force explores how legal aid can expand access to justice for veterans by helping remove barriers to housing, health, and financial stability.

LSC Veterans Task Force

Housing Task Force

The Housing Task Force presents findings from LSC’s Eviction Study and raises awareness of evictions, foreclosures, and housing instability affecting communities.

Housing Task Force

Rural Justice Task Force

The Task Force addresses rural legal needs, highlights effective service models, and suggests ways to engage attorneys in providing support to isolated communities.

Rural Justice Task Force

Disaster Task Force

LSC’s Disaster Task Force promotes stronger coordination and planning to ensure low-income survivors of natural disasters receive timely and effective legal help.

LSC Disaster Task Force

Technology Disasters Housing / Evictions Opioids Native American Rural Veterans

small

richardsons@lsc.gov

Native American

California Rural Legal Assistance: Technical Innovations for Language Access

Technical Innovations for Language Access

Considerations for Integrating Generative AI into Legal Aid

Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: Transforming Volunteer Training with the Pro Bono Training Institute

Five Tech Tips for Legal Aid

More on Providing Legal Services Resources

More Model Practices & Innovations

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

More Providing Legal Services Resources

More Model Practices & Innovations

How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

Ensuring Tribal Justice: How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

“Over half of OILS's staff are members of tribal nations, and this diverse team helps OILS navigate the complexities of the tribal landscape."

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Capital Fundraising Campaign

Anishinabe Legal Services: Capital Fundraising Campaign

“It is our belief that this [new headquarters] has not only created a much more accessible, safe, and inviting space for our low-income Native American community members, but it has also increased our efficiency and allowed us to serve greater numbers of clients at higher levels of service.”

More on Management

More Model Practices & Innovations

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay

“The Montana Legal Services Association’s Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project originated with an understanding: Montana’s legal community is small, and the number of people who practice tribal law is even smaller.”

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Alaska Legal Services: Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

"Community Justice Workers are an integral part of ALSC’s efforts to reach clients in the most remote areas of Alaska. Whereas most legal aid and pro bono attorneys operate in urban areas, CJWs often live and work in rural and tribal Alaska."

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices and Innovations

LSC Task Forces

Opioid Task Force

Veterans Task Force

Housing Task Force

Rural Justice Task Force

Disaster Task Force

Native American

California Rural Legal Assistance: Technical Innovations for Language Access

Technical Innovations for Language Access

Considerations for Integrating Generative AI into Legal Aid

Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: Transforming Volunteer Training with the Pro Bono Training Institute

Five Tech Tips for Legal Aid

More on Providing Legal Services Resources

More Model Practices & Innovations

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

: Ensuring Tribal Justice: How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Anishinabe Legal Services: Capital Fundraising Campaign

More Providing Legal Services Resources

More Model Practices & Innovations

How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

Ensuring Tribal Justice: How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

“Over half of OILS's staff are members of tribal nations, and this diverse team helps OILS navigate the complexities of the tribal landscape."

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Capital Fundraising Campaign

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Capital Fundraising Campaign

Anishinabe Legal Services: Capital Fundraising Campaign

“It is our belief that this [new headquarters] has not only created a much more accessible, safe, and inviting space for our low-income Native American community members, but it has also increased our efficiency and allowed us to serve greater numbers of clients at higher levels of service.”

Generating Financial Support for Legal Aid

Fundraising and Marketing

Strategic Planning

More on Management

More Model Practices & Innovations

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay

“The Montana Legal Services Association’s Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project originated with an understanding: Montana’s legal community is small, and the number of people who practice tribal law is even smaller.”

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Transforming Volunteer Training with the Pro Bono Training Institute

Capital Fundraising Campaign

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Alaska Legal Services: Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

"Community Justice Workers are an integral part of ALSC’s efforts to reach clients in the most remote areas of Alaska. Whereas most legal aid and pro bono attorneys operate in urban areas, CJWs often live and work in rural and tribal Alaska."

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Transforming Volunteer Training with the Pro Bono Training Institute

Neighborhood Advocacy Program

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices and Innovations

LSC Task Forces

Opioid Task Force

Veterans Task Force

Housing Task Force

Rural Justice Task Force

Disaster Task Force