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 to 16 organizations to provide a range of legal services — from information and advice to full representation.

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 open application process for the DLS program, typically commencing in July.

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	2026 grant award
ABC for Health, Inc.	$114,600
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Inc.	$30,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Inc.	$18,000
Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC)	$19,100
Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse (CASDA)	$25,795
Centro Legal	$55,525
Community Justice, Inc.	$30,600
Disability Rights Wisconsin	$200,600
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin – RISE Law Center	$25,400
Judicare Legal Aid	$321,000
Kids Matter, Inc.	$66,900
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.	$1,245,455
Legal Aid Society of Door County	$22,500
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee	$167,200
LOTUS Legal Clinic, Inc.	$30,000
Portage County Legal Aid Society	$50,800
TOTAL	$2,423,475

Current recipients - Legal Aid Advancement grants

Grantee organization	July 2025 Award
ABC for Health, Inc.	$142,038
Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC)	$31,494
Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse (CASDA)	$46,241
Centro Legal	$65,000
Community Justice, Inc.	$37,877
Disability Rights Wisconsin	$300,000
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin – RISE Law Center	$31,564
Judicare Legal Aid.	$450,000
Kids Matter, Inc.	$82,855
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.	$1,512,000
Legal Aid Society of Door County	$2,500
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee	$236,441
LOTUS Legal Clinic, Inc.	$30,000
Portage County Legal Aid Society	$19,490
Vivent Health	$12,500
TOTAL	$3,000,000