You are here: American University School of Public Affairs Justice Initiatives Justice in Government Project Toolkit

Back to top

The Justice in Government Project Toolkit We're Moving to NLADA's LegalAidResources.org this June 2021

The JGP Toolkit is moving! In June 2021, The Justice in Government Project Toolkit, including its Grants Matrices, library of research briefs with their easy-to-use bitesize findings, and COVID-19 and data resources, will move to NLADA’s LegalAidResources.org page. Learn more here.

 

The Justice in Government Project Toolkit

 

The big idea behind The Justice in Government Project (JGP) is simple: many government programs aimed at increasing opportunities for education, employment, housing, health care, and improving public safety and family stability are more effective and efficient when they include legal aid alongside other supportive services. Too often those programs do not include legal aid but could achieve even better results and cost savings if they did.

This Toolkit helps government policymakers, grant administrators, legal profession leaders, social service providers, and legal aid and other advocates improve the quality and efficiency of government programs, increase access to justice, and achieve policy outcomes and priorities. It is divided into four modules, each containing its own unique resources and information ranging from curated research briefs on civil legal aid, to our Grants Matrix and funding FAQs, to state examples, to additional tools related to civil legal aid and funding opportunities.

Toolkit Video Tour

Are you new to the JGP Toolkit? Or are you looking for guidance on where to find resources and how to use them?

The JGP Toolkit video tour features an overview description of the modules, resources, and how to use them, and an example walk-through of the Toolkit. To access more in-depth tours tailored to each of the Toolkit modules, go to a module and select the video tour button at the top of the page.

TOOLKIT VIDEO TOUR

The Justice in Government Project

Learn more about the Justice in Government Project.

Learn More

The Justice in Government Project

The Justice in Government Project Video Tour

Learn about the JGP, its resources, and how to use them.

Access the Video Tour

The Justice in Government Project Toolkit

ascending bar graph icon

Module 1: Research on Civil Legal Aid

Read curated research briefs and newsletters relevant to legal aid across government policy priorities.

Enter Module 1

Circular icon with dollar sign

Module 2: Funding Civil Legal Aid

Use our Grants Matrix and FAQs identifying state-administered executive branch funding sources for legal aid.

Enter Module 2

United States map icon

Module 3: State Examples

Learn from states that are working with executive branch policymakers to advance civil legal aid.

Enter Module 3

Letter I in circular icon

Module 4: Additional Tools

Find tools to connect policy priorities to legal aid, including webinars and data sources. 

Enter Module 4

Reading an open book icon

JGP Publications, Webinars and Media

JGP helps bridge the gap between research and what policymakers need to know about civil legal aid.

Learn More

Surgical mask icon

JGP COVID-19 Resources

Find the latest updates on COVID-19 related funding opportunities, resources, webinars and publications.

Learn More

The Toolkit also has an archive for all the federal Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable information and materials.

The Justice in Government Project (JGP) is part of the Justice Programs Office at the American University School of Public Affairs.

The big idea behind The Justice in Government Project is simple: many government programs aimed at increasing opportunities for education, employment, housing, health care, and improving public safety and family stability are more effective and efficient when they include legal aid alongside other supportive services. Too often those programs do not include legal aid but could achieve even better results and cost savings if they did.

We collaborate with executive branch policymakers and legal profession leaders in several states including AZ, CA, HI, MS, OK, SC, and WI, to achieve stated policy priorities with existing federal block grant funds that allow spending on legal aid and other already appropriated funds. We focus on embedding legal services in government programs when empirical evidence demonstrates that it works. This can include enhancing services to jobseekers using American Job Centers, addressing unmet legal needs of crime victims, helping children of a parent with opioid use disorder, and ensuring veterans access benefits to which they’re entitled.

This toolkit aims to offer this knowledge and state plans to demonstrate the importance of legal aid.

The JGP thanks its funders: the Open Society Foundations, the Public Welfare Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation.

The Justice in Government also thanks the Legal Aid Association of California, Office of Civil Legal Aid in Washington State, Massachusetts Legal Aid Corporation, Michigan Poverty Law Program, Social Finance, Pew Research Center, National Association of Victims Assistance Administrators, Self-Represented Litigation Network, and federal staff at the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Corporation for National and Community Service for their support, edits, and contributions. Thanks also to our partners at the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, and the California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Mississippi Access to Justice Commissions, and executive directors and staff of countless legal aid programs throughout the country.