Direct Legal Services and Legal Aid Advancement grants

Direct Legal Services (DLS), our longest-standing grant program, funds a range of civil legal aid services to clients with limited incomes, helping them resolve major problems in their lives.

In recent years, we have provided several rounds of Legal Aid Advancement (LAA) grants to help DLS grantees meet the growing need for civil legal assistance in Wisconsin. These one-time grants were made possible by temporarily higher trust account revenue from elevated interest rates.

Current grant levels

For 2026, we awarded $2,493,975 in DLS grants to 16 organizations to provide a range of legal services — from information and advice to full representation. Our most recent LAA awards totaled $4 million dollars, distributed to 14 civil legal aid providers.

Application process

We hold an annual, open application process for the DLS program, typically commencing in July. LAA grants are awarded to existing grantees as funding allows.

Funding sources

Direct Legal Services (and Legal Aid Advancement) grants are funded by these sources, as available:

Current recipients - Direct Legal Services grants

Grantee organization	Area served	2026 grant award
ABC (Advocacy and Benefits Counseling) for Health	Statewide	$118,200
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee	10 counties in Southeastern Wisconsin	$30,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse	19 counties in western, southwestern, and central Wisconsin	$18,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison	11 counties in southcentral Wisconsin	$19,700
Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse (CASDA)	Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas counties	$25,795
Centro Legal	Milwaukee and Waukesha counties	$55,525
Community Justice, Inc.	14 counties in southern and southwestern Wisconsin	$31,600
Disability Rights Wisconsin	Statewide	$206,800
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin – RISE Law Center	Statewide	$26,200
Kids Matter, Inc.	Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, limited services statewide	$69,000
Legal Action of Wisconsin	Statewide	$1,615,155
Legal Aid Society of Door County	Door County	$23,200
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	$172,400
LOTUS Legal Clinic	Statewide	$30,000
Portage County Legal Aid Society	Portage County	$52,400
TOTAL		$2,493,975

Current recipients - Legal Aid Advancement grants

Grantee organization	Area served	April 2026 Grant
ABC (Advocacy and Benefits Counseling) for Health	Statewide	$250,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse	19 counties in western, southwestern, and central Wisconsin	$18,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison	11 counties in southcentral Wisconsin	$62,000
Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse (CASDA)	Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas counties	$46,240
Centro Legal	Milwaukee and Waukesha counties	$75,000
Community Justice, Inc.	14 counties in southern and southwestern Wisconsin	$50,000
Disability Rights Wisconsin	Statewide	$300,000
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin – RISE Law Center	Statewide	$228,221
Kids Matter Inc.	Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, limited services statewide	$48,500
Legal Action of Wisconsin	Statewide	$2,400,000
Legal Aid Society of Door County	Door County	$6,000
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	$470,159
LOTUS Legal Clinic	Statewide	$42,560
Portage County Legal Aid Society	Portage County	$3,320
TOTAL		$4,000,000