The Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund (WEJF) is proud to support a proposed increase to the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF) assessment of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin for attorneys licensed in the state. This initiative seeks to raise the current $50 annual assessment to $75 in 2025 and $100 in 2027. WEJF co-signed the petition and support memo filed with the Supreme Court earlier this month, along with the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, and legal aid-providing organizations Judicare Legal Aid, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Disability Rights Wisconsin, ABC for Health, and Centro Legal.
Why is this important?
- Critical need: Only 7% of civil legal problems faced by low-income Wisconsinites receive help. This increase will support more comprehensive legal aid services.
- Funding gap: With many legal aid funding sources expiring or decreasing, this increase helps address a growing crisis in civil legal services.
- Economic impact: Every dollar invested in civil legal aid generates $8.40 in economic benefits for Wisconsin through cost savings, direct benefits to clients, and economic multiplier effects.
- Stable funding: The PILSF assessment provides a uniquely stable funding source for legal aid, not subject to interest rate fluctuations or political shifts.
Why WEJF Supports the Amount Increase
WEJF’s mission is to raise funds for civil legal aid service providers in the state so they can serve more Wisconsinites in need of legal help. The WEJF Board of Directors consists of attorneys from private law firms and corporations around the state in addition to the three executive directors of the three WEJF beneficiary organizations (Disability Rights, Judicare, and Legal Action). We embrace the professional responsibility we have as attorneys to provide and support free services to those who cannot afford them.
While WEJF continues its annual fundraising and endowment growth to help fund the largest providers of legal aid in Wisconsin through voluntary support, we recognize that the justice gap (more demand for services than current resources can provide) remains greater than WEJF fundraising and other funding avenues currently support. We support the requested increase to the annual PILSF assessment to counteract the effects of inflation and unmet needs in the fight to narrow the justice gap.
WEJF believes this modest increase represents a significant step toward ensuring equal access to justice in Wisconsin. It demonstrates the legal community’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and strengthening our justice system.
We encourage WEJF supporters to join us in advocating for more funding for legal aid in the state. Together, we can work towards a more equitable legal system for all Wisconsinites.