Page 12 - Delaware Lawyer - Summer 2019

FEATURE
sure what you can do, please contact Dela- ware Volunteer Legal Services — there are opportunities available for every lawyer. The Search for More Funding
While these efforts have been success- ful, a significant justice gap remains. And while more volunteer participation by lawyers is sorely needed, the justice gap can be closed only with greater funding. A large, professional legal aid corps is nec- essary to ensure that no citizen is denied the right to equality before the law for lack of funds.
Where Can the Money Come From?
The state contributes through its annual budget a little less than $1 mil- lion from the general fund, including grants in aid, and then additional money through separate programs in agencies. Yet as the gap demonstrates, this just is not enough. This is particularly frustrat- ing, because the dollars spent are highly leveraged by the dedicated and talented staff of the legal aid agencies. Every ad-
As members of the bar, we have
a credible voice about this important issue, and should be willing to use it.
ditional lawyer hired increases capacity to represent many additional clients, and, as noted above, these funds are an invest- ment that pays significant long-term re- turns. As a matter of state budgeting, we can do better. Unfortunately, the recipi- ents of these needed services often have no voice in Dover. As members of the bar,
we have a credible voice about this impor- tant issue, and should be willing to use it. If this issue is meaningful to you, make your voice heard.
It is particularly regrettable that Dela- ware would deny access to the courts for its human citizenry. Our economy is uniquely dependent on the fact that our legal system treats corporate citizens so well. Around 40 percent of the state’s revenue comes from the incorporation of corporate citizens that have no other connection to Delaware. Our second-to- none legal system is one of the elements to attract them: Delaware has seven trial court judges dedicated almost entirely to corporate matters. This large investment ensures that Delaware’s corporate citizens receive swift and high-quality justice.
Yet even though so much of our rev- enue depends on a high-quality legal sys- tem (which reduces the tax burden on or- dinary citizens), the system is two-tiered — the best access for corporations and no
10 DELAWARE LAWYER SUMMER 2019