Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.
 
Serving the Tennessee counties of Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale and Tipton.
Hablas Espanol? Póngase en contacto con nosotros en el (901) 523-8822.
Mals 40th

Welcome to Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.’s Website
A Case For Your Support!

Harrison D. McIverMemphis Area Legal Services, Inc. (MALS) entered its fifth decade with the same commitment and determination that inspired 30 members of the legal profession in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King’s death to coalesce around a shared vision to establish an organization whose single purpose was to provide means by which the legal problems of the poor could be addressed.

Today, MALS continues that tradition of "excellence in legal advocacy," as a non-profit firm geared to provide the highest quality legal assistance possible to the most vulnerable residents of our community.

Even with a dedicated staff, it cannot meet the compelling need today that is more acute because the "justice gap" is widening only compounded by the economic woes of our time. As the recent census reveals that more than 57 million individuals live at or below the poverty line, representing more than a 14 million increase since the 2000 Decennial Census.

Your support for the 2011 Campaign is more crucial today than ever before for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), MALS’ largest funder (40%), is facing a new threat in the 2012 federal budgeting and appropriation processes.

We thank you, our supporters, who softened the blow and impact in 2011. In 2012, your support is being called on once again, as the cornerstone of our democracy - "equal justice under law" - will be undermined, should the proposed cuts occur.

What can you do? Simply, volunteer your time willingly and generously contribute $300.00 minimally, or just give what you are able to give to the 2011 Campaign for Equal Justice, chaired by George T. "Buck" Lewis.

Again, welcome to our website. We hope you find it informative and leave with a better understanding of the various activities and important services we provide our community.
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Client Services

MALS 2011 FUNDING

MALS Funding Chart

Contributions

The primary source of revenue in this category is the organization’s annual fundraising campaign, through which individuals, law firms, and corporations donate funds.

Federal, State and Local Government

Revenue in this category includes any grants from federal sources (e.g., Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, etc.), state funds from the Civil Legal Representation for Indigents Fund administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Title III funding from the Shelby County Government administered by the Aging Commission of the Mid-South and funds from local government such as Community Development Block Grants from the City of Memphis.

Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), Foundations and Other

The IOLTA program in Tennessee was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1984 and is administered by the Tennessee Bar Foundation.  The program raises and distributes funds in the form of grants to organizations in Tennessee that provide direct legal services to the indigent, to organizations that seek to improve the administration of justice and to students, in the form of scholarships, at the state-supported law schools.  Revenue from foundations (e.g., The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis) and other organizations such as Seedco are included in this category.

Legal Services Corporation(LSC)

The main source of funding for civil legal aid in the nation, LSC gives grants to independent, local programs.  Grants are awarded through a competitive process and are generally based on the number of people living in poverty in a given state or service area.
MALS