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 $2,423,475 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.

In 2025, we awarded more than $1.9 million in DLS grants to 17 organizations and additionally distributed $3 million in LAA grants. In 2024, we distributed more than $1.8 million through DLS and $2.5 million in LAA grants. The two programs together served more than 9,000 individuals and families that year.

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 for Health, Inc.	Statewide	$114,600
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Inc.	10 counties in Southeastern Wisconsin	$30,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Inc.	19 counties in western, southwestern, and central Wisconsin	$18,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison (CMC)	11 counties in southcentral Wisconsin	$19,100
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	$30,600
Disability Rights Wisconsin	Statewide	$200,600
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin – RISE Law Center	Statewide	$25,400
Kids Matter, Inc.	Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, limited services statewide	$66,900
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.	Statewide	$1,566,455
Legal Aid Society of Door County	Door County	$22,500
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	$167,200
LOTUS Legal Clinic, Inc.	Statewide	$30,000
Portage County Legal Aid Society	Portage County	$50,800

Current recipients - Legal Aid Advancement grants

Grantee organization	Area served	April 2026 Grant
ABC (Advocacy and Benefits Counseling) for Health, Inc.	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, Inc.	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, Inc.	Statewide	$42,560
Portage County Legal Aid Society	Portage County	$3,320
TOTAL		$4,000,000