FUNDING THE PROMISE OF JUSTICE FOR ALL

2019 ANNUAL REPORT

2 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MONTANA JUSTICE FOUNDATION 3

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS

MIKE LAMBPresident, 2017 – 2019Lamb Law OfficeHelena

MAGGIE WEAMERPresident, 2019 – 2020Tarlow Stonecipher Weamer & Kelly, PLLC Bozeman

care, escape abusive and violent environments, and rebuild their lives. With MJF funding, our grantees

• Secure orders of protection for survivors of domestic violence and their children

• Give a voice to thousands of abused and neglected children navigating the legal and foster care systems

• Facilitate mediation to resolve disputes early and avoid court altogether

• Maintain housing and improve housing conditions for families, seniors, and veterans

• Fend off predatory consumer schemes and help people onto a path of self-sufficiency

• Support new attorneys who have dedicated their careers to public service by helping them repay their law school debt

As the charitable arm of Montana’s legal community, the Montana Justice Foundation serves a vital role as a stable and reliable source of funds for access to justice programs statewide. Through the generous support of our donors, revenue from the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, and cy pres awards, MJF has distributed more than $7 million in grants and loan repayment assistance to Montana’s legal aid programs and attorneys over the last 30 years.

Thank you for your partnership as we continue this vital work together.

Dear Friends,

Our justice system is the foundation of American society. Our system doesn’t serve its mission unless it works for everyone. For far too many Montanans struggling to make ends meet, our justice system does not always work. Courts today are filled with people facing a crisis and who, without legal information or assistance, need help with basic life necessities such as safety, shelter, and support for their children.

Money is the primary barrier to Montanans getting the legal help they need. An estimated 182,000 Montanans – 18% of our state’s population – have incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level and are unable to afford the help of an attorney. And Montanans experience other challenges in accessing justice: the rural nature of our state, the long distances between services, and the lack of transportation infrastructure connecting rural towns to larger cities where services are located.

Every family should have the legal resources they need to feel safe and secure. The Montana Justice Foundation works to achieve equal access to justice for all Montanans through grant funding, promoting pro-bono services, and developing more resources for those in need of legal assistance. We know that high-quality legal aid helps secure the overall health, well-being, and security of low-income Montanans and is a critical component of supporting vibrant, healthy, and successful communities.

Our grant programs serve ordinary Montanans, particularly children, seniors, veterans, Native Americans, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. We support projects that help people stay in housing, receive medical

MJF has distributed more than $7 million in grants and loan repayment

assistance to Montana’s legal aid programs and attorneys over the last 30 years.

Every family should have the legal resources they need to feel safe and secure.

4 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MONTANA JUSTICE FOUNDATION 5

Grant Making and Loan Repayment AssistanceMJF invests in programs that promote equal access to justice for all Montanans.

We make several types of grants, including program grants for general operating

support, law-related education grants, and special project grants for new and

innovative projects. We also fund a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP)

that allows new attorneys to take jobs in civil legal aid and dedicate their work

to helping low-income Montanans. Through strategic grant making and effective

programming, MJF has been able to successfully fund many programs that help

our state close the gaps in access to justice for all.

PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTSGrowing Resources MJF accomplishes its mission through the generous support of our donors and

the Montana legal community and managing the state’s Interest on Lawyer Trust

Accounts (IOLTA), a nation-wide program that generates funds from interest

on attorneys’ trust accounts. We also actively pursue cy pres awards, an avenue

through which attorneys can choose to direct court awards and unclaimed residual

funds from class actions to the Montana Justice Foundation.

Community BuildingMJF works with our community partners and the legal aid community to do the

nuts and bolts work of building stronger systems that help Montanans attain

legal assistance. Our work through the Access to Justice Commission — an entity

created by the Montana State Supreme Court to remove barriers to justice — helps

ensure a coordinated spectrum of legal aid resources across the state.

$357,939 of IOLTA funds received from 1,177 accounts at 58 financial institutions

$655,322 outstanding non-profit organizations

awarded to

20

$655,322 awarded to 20 outstanding non-profit organizations committed to helping Montanans address their legal needs, including more than $446,622 to Montana Legal Services Association – our largest grant cycle in nearly a decade

In 2018-2019

$24,000 awarded to 11 civil legal aid attorneys dedicated to helping low-income Montanans, through our law school loan repayment assistance program

awarded to Montana Legal Services Association last year$446,622

6 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MONTANA JUSTICE FOUNDATION 7

2018-19 GRANTS AWARDEDAccess to Justice Grantssupporting legal services, alternative dispute resolution, law-related education, and the effective administration of justice

$250,000

$4,000

$1,300

$4,000

$1,500

$5,000

$1,000

$5,000

$4,250

$4,250

$2,000

$5,500

$3,000

$6,000

$4,300

Montana Legal Services Associationprovides general legal assistance to low-income Montanans throughout the state

Cascade County Law Clinicprovides legal assistance in Cascade County

Montana Generational Justiceprovides estate planning services to Native Americans through on-site clinics

HAVEN (Bozeman)provides legal assistance to survivors of domestic abuse, including immigrants, in the Gallatin Valley

Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violenceprovides legal assistance to survivors of sexual assault

SAFE Harbor (Ronan)provides legal assistance to survivors of domestic abuse in Northwestern Montana

Sanders County Coalition for Familiesprovides legal assistance to survivors of domestic abuse in Northwestern Montana

YWCA of Billingsprovides legal assistance to survivors of domestic abuse in the Billings area

Community Dispute Resolution Centerprovides mediation and alternative dispute resolution services in Missoula

Community Mediation Centerprovides mediation and alternative dispute resolution services in Bozeman

Forward Montana Foundationprovides law-related high school civics education

Montana Fair Housing, Inc.prevents, investigates, and remedies housing discrimination statewide

Montana Innocence Projectprovides post-conviction investigation and legal services for wrongfully convicted Montanans

CASA-CAN (Great Falls)provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in Cascade County

CASA for Kids, Inc.provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in Kalispell and surrounding areas

Organization Grant

Community Opportunity Grantsimproving the quality of life in Montana’s communities

Montana Legal Services Associationprovides a legal incubator program to foster innovative law practices that serve low- and moderate- income and underserved populations in rural areas of Montana

Montana Legal Services Associationprovides legal assistance on consumer debt matters to low-income Montanans throughout the state

Alexander Blewett III School of Lawassists tribal communities with building legal capacity, infrastructure, and support

Trust Montanasupports legal work to create permanently affordable home ownership opportunities throughout Montana

Montana Generational Justiceprovides estate planning services to Native Americans and veterans

Total

$3,500

$3,500

$9,500

$6,000

$2,500

$326,100

CASA of Lake & Sanders Counties provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in Lake and Sanders counties

CASA of Missoulaprovides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in Missoula and surrounding areas

Eastern Montana CASA GAL Inc.provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children throughout eastern Montana

CASA of Yellowstone Countyprovides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in Billings and surrounding areas

CASA of Hill Countyprovides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in several northern Montana counties

Total

$81,500

$115,122

$65,000

$52,600

$15,000

$329,222

ACCESS TO JUSTICE GRANTS continued

Organization

Organization

Grant

Grant

Jessie was living with her family on a rural reservation when her daughter unexpectedly passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition. Jessie was devastated — her daughter was young, with two children. Jessie suddenly found herself caring for her grandchildren, including her grandson, Griffen, who has autism. Soon after, Jessie was notified that the Social Security Administration had decided to terminate Griffen’s Social Security Disability payments, which he relied on to access specific services for his autism. Jessie felt overwhelmed — as she later said, “I’ve always been a fighter, but this time I felt like the ground had gone out from under me.”

Recognizing that this was a problem she couldn’t handle on her own, Jessie reached out to Montana Legal Services Association for help. An MLSA attorney reviewed Griffen’s case and worked

with Jessie to gather all of the medical documents and paperwork that she would need to appeal the Social Security Administration’s decision. After Jessie submitted these new documents for review, the Social Security Administration reversed its decision and restored Griffen’s benefits.

Receiving this news felt like a weight lifed off Jessie’s shoulders. Grateful for the help she received, Jessie later wrote to MLSA in thanks:

Great Falls

Helena

ButteBozeman Billings

HavreKalispell

Missoula

Miles City

PolsonRonan

Columbia Falls

8 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MONTANA JUSTICE FOUNDATION 9

SUPPORTING FAMILIES, OPENING DOORS

Jessie’s Story

“You folks reached down and helped me with my biggest and most serious concern, which was

protecting the interests of my grandchildren. For this, I will be

eternally grateful.”

Direct Legal Services

CASA

Crime Victim Legal Services

Mediation

Other

$255,300

$35,300

$16,500

$8,500

$10,500

Program Service Type Amount Awarded

Grant Recipients

LRAP Recipients

IOLTA GRANTS AND LRAP RECIPIENTS

5%

3%

79%

3%

11%

10 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MONTANA JUSTICE FOUNDATION 11

WHERE YOU BANK MATTERSMontana attorneys’ diligence in maintaining IOLTA trust accounts leads to meaningful impacts in our civil justice system. With the funds generated through the IOLTA program, Montana Justice Foundation has granted more than $7 million to support legal aid services for ordinary Montanans all across the state.

IOLTA revenue helps families stay in housing, receive medical care, escape abusive and violent situations, and rebuild their lives. Attorneys can make IOLTA trust accounts go even further by banking with a Peak Your Interest institution. These institutions go above and beyond by paying higher interest rates on IOLTA accounts.

Their exceptional support ensures more funding for critically needed legal help. MJF encourages attorneys and firms to support access to justice by doing business with these banks or by encouraging banks not on this list to become MJF preferred banks.

MONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION SNAPSHOT

Montana Legal Services Association is the only statewide provider of civil legal aid in Montana, providing legal information, advice, and representation to thousands of low income Montanans each year. These services help

address a wide range of civil legal needs, including housing, family law, domestic violence, consumer debt, bankruptcy, and public benefits, which can all have devastating consequences if not addressed. MLSA receives several grants from the Montana Justice Foundation to provide direct services to low income Montanans and to develop new programs, such as the Rural Incubator Project for Lawyers.

In 2018, MLSA handled 3,953 cases, helping a total of 9,303 clients and their family members, including children. MLSA handled 1,850 of these cases with full or partial support from MJF funds.

Leadership Banks

These institutions pay at least 1.5% interest

Honor Roll Banks

These institutions pay at least 1% interest

• Yellowstone Bank

• American Bank

• Three Rivers Bank of Montana

• Summit National Bank

• First Interstate Bank

9,303 Total Clients

3,953 Cases

1,850 Cases (MJF Funds)

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