Accessing critical legal research tools has just gotten easier for five legal services agencies thanks to the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (“PBA-YLD”), and LEXIS-NEXIS.

The research hours are distributed through the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation/PBA-YLD Pro Bono Grants Project, an initiative that annually solicits grant applications from the legal services community. This year, five organizations sought in excess of 190 hours of legal research time.

“The Pro Bono Grants Project was created in partnership with the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation to foster and support programs than enable the delivery of pro bono legal representation throughout the Commonwealth,” notes the Hon.William Higgins, chair of the PBA YLD. “It’s just one of the ways the YLD and the Foundation work together at the state level to help to ensure that all citizens have equal access to justice.”

Karen Balaban, President of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation wholeheartedly agrees. “Having access to legal research tools is an essential part of providing meaningful access to justice. Thanks to LEXIS-NEXIS, the Pro Bono Grants Project plays a small role in helping to meet the research needs of these organizations dedicated to making access a reality.”

The five grant recipients are: Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program, Support Center for Child Advocates, Women Against Abuse, and Women’s Law Project.