PA   IOLTA BOARD

Helping to Secure Equal Access to Justice


To:        
          
  
From:    
Date:     

Subject:  

 County President Judges
County Bar Presidents and Executive Directors

Al Azen
December 21, 2005

Available Pro Bono Incentive Funds

 

        The PA IOLTA Board is conducting its grant process to award about $90,000 of grants primarily to help stimulate and facilitate organized pro bono efforts in counties where none currently exist. To the extent that funds are available, grants may also be awarded to counties with existing organized pro bono programs if they can demonstrate definitive plans to increase pro bono participation, or enhance their programs so they can maintain existing levels of pro bono volunteers.

        The PA IOLTA Board encourages collaberation among counties in the submissions of their pro bono proposals. These grants will be awarded on a meritorious basis, and local county financial support will be viewed favorably by the PA IOLTA Board.

        The PA IOLTA Board's Pro Bono Incentive Grant Application, 2006 is enclosed. Other materials that may be useful resources for preparing the grant application and planning your program can be found on the IOLTA website at www.paiolta.org. These resources are:

        1. PA Bar Association model pro bono case representation plan; and

        2. A description prepared by the America Bar Association of other pro bono activities.

        I encourage you to call upon the expertise that exists within the local legal aid program that is serving your county, or David Trevaskis, Esq., the PA Bar Association Statewide Pro Bono Co-ordinator, (800)932-0311 ext. 2236, david.trevaskis@pabar.org to help you formulate your plans.

 
cc: Legal Aid Program Directors


 


 



The expected timeline for the grant process is displayed below:

Announce Availability of Grants       2005      
Mid December
Grant Applications Due to the Board       2006      
February 10
Acknowledge Receipt of Grant Application
and Request Missing Data 		 Late-February
Receipt of Missing Data  Early March
Grant Committee Reviews Applications and
Develops its Recommendations  		March
Board Develops its Preliminary Grant Recommendations  Mid-March
Preliminary Grant Awards approved by Supreme Court  Early May
Notice of Preliminary Grant Awards to Applicants and
Invite Grant Applicants for Oral or Written Presentations  		Mid-May
Hear Oral Presentations/Review Written Requests for 
Reconsideration		 Late May
Recommendations for meritorious re-considerations
sent to the Supreme Court  		Early June
Grant Agreements Executed for the Grant Cycle
7/1/2006 to 6/30/2007  		Mid-June
Grant Agreements Executed for Court Approved
re-considerations for the Grant Cycle 7/1/2006 to 6/30/2007 		 Mid-July


                                    a.         Time-line is subject to change without notice.