Making a Difference
Making a Difference
Unlike criminal defendants, people facing serious civil legal problems generally do not have the right to a lawyer if they cannot afford one. These problems include eviction and unsafe housing conditions, domestic violence, denial of veterans’ benefits, wage theft, and elder abuse. Civil legal aid organizations provide free information, advice, and representation to people facing these challenges and many others.
Because available funding falls far short of the need, Massachusetts legal aid organizations are forced to turn away over 40% of eligible people who seek help. The interest earned on IOLTA accounts and other funds distributed by the IOLTA Committee play a critical role in narrowing this justice gap.
The IOLTA Committee is one of the largest sources of funding for civil legal aid in Massachusetts. Since 1985, the IOLTA Committee has distributed more than $450 million to stabilize families, strengthen communities, and expand access to legal help across the Commonwealth.
Banking Partners in Action
Massachusetts financial institutions are essential partners in the success of the IOLTA program. For more than 30 years, banks and credit unions across the Commonwealth have helped generate funding for civil legal aid and access-to-justice initiatives by maintaining IOLTA accounts.
Today, approximately 150 financial institutions maintain more than 20,000 IOLTA accounts. Interest earned on those accounts helps meet the growing demand for civil legal assistance throughout Massachusetts.
The IOLTA Committee is grateful to all participating financial institutions and especially recognizes those that provide enhanced support as Leadership Institutions.