Tulsa Bar Response To Call To Ante Up Financial Help For Legal Aid Underwhelming As Governor, Others Attempt To Bridge "Justice Gap" In Oklahoma

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, an op-ed column in Tulsa World reports:

• Two hundred Tulsa law firms that had not contributed to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma in past fund drives recently received an appeal to help match a $35,000 challenge grant from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. So far, response is underwhelming; four firms dug deep and gave a total of $1,000. The annual public fund drive continues, led by Gov. Brad Henry and first lady Kim Henry.

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• [I]f this were a typical year — LASO again would serve 20,000 clients, who could not otherwise afford a lawyer to aid them with civil legal matters. And LASO again, lamentably, would turn away another 20,000 Oklahomans because it did not have enough staff to get them past the front door. Even in good times demand far outstrips resources. "We call it the 'justice gap,' " says LASO's Gayla Machell. "They're all the people who cannot afford an attorney's help but cannot make it to the front of the line at Legal Aid."

• This, however, will not be an ordinary year. Here and nationally Legal Aid groups are witnessing crushing demand. LASO staff across the state can only hope that the number they must turn away remains at 20,000 because the figure could go far higher.

For more, see Justice for all? Not really (Lack of Legal Aid funding creates unbalanced system).