"During this time of economic uncertainty, I am very pleased to announce that the New Hampshire Bar Foundation recently approved $1.7 million in grants in support of eleven nonprofit organizations,” announced David G. Snyder, executive director of the NH Bar Foundation. 

Funding for the grants comes from one of the NH Bar Foundation’s two grant programs, the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Grants Program. "When safety, shelter, food, and medicine are on the line, legal assistance is particularly critical. The nonprofit organizations funded by the NH Bar Foundation will help thousands of residents, disadvantaged by age, income or disability, access the legal assistance they need in the coming year. More than 2,200 New Hampshire lawyers and forty-one banks participate in the IOLTA Program for the benefit of New Hampshire residents. This philanthropic program is a remarkable expression of goodwill among both the banking and legal communities, and the citizens of New Hampshire are very fortunate to have their support,” said Snyder.

The nonprofit organizations awarded grants provide free or reduced-fee legal advice, legal representation, advocacy or referral in civil matters to help disadvantaged residents. Several organizations also provide information through pamphlets, websites, and public workshops. Grants were awarded on June 1, 2008, to the Disabilities Rights Center, Franklin Pierce Law Center Civil Practice Clinic, International Institute of New Hampshire, Legal Advice and Referral Center, NH Bar Association Reduced-Fee Referral Program, NH Pro Bono Referral Program and its Domestic Violence Emergency Program, New Hampshire Legal Assistance, NH Bar Association Law-Related Education Program, The Support Center at Burch House Crisis Center, and the Law School Loan Forgiveness Program for attorneys working in nonprofit law agencies.

Grant Awards and Descriptions:

• $34,454 - Disabilities Rights Center, Concord, NH (www.drcnh.org)
  To help support a staff attorney position to represent individuals with a range of disabilities, including, cognitive, mental, sensory, and physical disabilities.
• $51,000 - Franklin Pierce Civil Practice Clinic, Concord, NH (www.piercelaw.edu)
  To support the civil practice clinic that provides direct representation of indigent clients in a variety of civil legal matters including foreclosures and bankruptcy, while training law students to handle the legal needs of individuals living in poverty.
• $25,000 - International Institute of NH, Manchester, NH (www.iiboston/iinh.org)
  To help support a staff attorney position to assist and represent refugees assigned to New Hampshire, including documentation assistance in the naturalization process, legal protection for victims of abuse, and achieving asylee status.
• $90,000 - Law School Loan Forgiveness, Concord, NH (www.nhbarfoundation.org)
  To provide law school loan repayment assistance for eligible staff attorneys working for nonprofit law agencies, including NH Legal Assistance, Legal Advice & Referral Center, NHBA Pro Bono Referral Program, and the Disabilities Rights Center.
• $60,000 - Legal Advice & Referral Center, Concord, NH (www.larcnh.org)
  To support a toll-free hot line for legal advice, referral, and pro se assistance on civil legal matters for low-income residents.
• $36,000 - NH Bar Association Reduced-Fee Referral Service, Concord NH (www.nhbar.org)
  To support a lawyer referral program connecting those with some “limited capacity to pay” for civil legal assistance with attorneys willing to work for a reduced-fee.
• $1,125,000 - NH Legal Assistance – Offices in Manchester, Claremont, Concord, Littleton, Nashua, Portsmouth, NH (www.nhla.org) -
  To support civil legal services for low-income and elderly people across New Hampshire, especially in matters of shelter, subsistence income, access to healthcare, and protection from family violence.
• $210,000 - NH Pro Bono Referral Program, Concord, NH (www.nhbar.org)
  To support civil legal services for people with low-income on matters involving preservation of income and housing, family safety and stability, the best interests of children in divorce and parenting cases.
• $23,546 - NH Pro Bono Domestic Violence Emergency Project (DOVE), Concord, NH (www.nhbar.org) -
  To support free, expedited civil legal representation for low-income victims of domestic violence.
• $5,000 - The Support Center at Burch House (www.nhcadsv.org)
  Legal emergency funds for representation of victims of domestic and sexual violence.
• $40,000 - NH Bar Association's Law-Related Education Program (www.nhbar.org)
  To support educational programming, available to schools statewide, on the law and the courts.
  

The New Hampshire Bar Foundation makes grants annually through two grant programs, the Justice Grants Program and the IOLTA Grants Program. Grant information is available online at www.nhbarfoundation.org or by calling the NH Bar Foundation at 603-224-6942.