Direct Legal Services

WisTAF’s oldest grant program funds a range of civil legal aid services to clients with limited incomes, helping them resolve major problems in their lives.

In 2024, we awarded more than $1.8 million in Direct Legal Services (DLS) grants to 17 organizations to provide a range of legal services— from information and advice to full representation — to approximately 8,000 clients in 2023.

Additionally, in response to the increase in unmet civil legal needs in Wisconsin combined with our temporarily higher trust account revenue stemming from higher interest rates, WisTAF distributed $2.5 million in one-time 2024 Legal Aid Advancement grants as a way to strengthen the work of our Direct Legal Services grantees.

Direct legal services (and Legal Aid Advancement) grants are funded by these sources, as available:

• Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA)
• Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF) 
• pro hac vice fees
• cy pres awards

Clients served by legal area (Direct Legal Services & Legal Aid Advancement Grants, 2023)

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