If it’s a 60 in London, it’s only 35 in Washington. National legal aid got going later in the US. President Obama issued a special proclamation celebrating the 35th birthday of a US national civil legal aid service through the establishment of a legal service corporation.
Here, it has been left to the eminently charming, but significantly less senior, Lord Bach to celebrate the equivalent 60th anniversary. President Obama also took a notably different line on the future: “Because economically vulnerable communities continue to face an unmet need for legal services, my administration has supported increased funding.” Here, we just have the prospect of cuts or “refocusing”.
President Nixon established the legal services corporation (LSC) in 1973. He was remarkably supportive: “For many of our citizens…legal services have reaffirmed faith in our government of laws...we must make [the programme] immune to political pressures and a permanent part of our justice system.”
The LSC continues to have strong support. Hillary Clinton chaired the corporation from 1978 until 1980. By all accounts, she was highly effective. She tripled the budget; saw off conservative opposition to the representation of
