The LSI Foundation Renews Donation of Translation Services to Help Increase Access to Justice

Jan. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- New York (January 28, 2013)—The LSI Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of Linguistic Systems, Inc., a leading provider of language translation services located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced that they have renewed their support of Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit leader in innovative programs to increase access to justice. For 2013, the LSI Foundation has committed to providing a minimum of $100,000 worth of pro bono translation services to Pro Bono Net.

The 2013 donation will support both legal aid organizations and the pro bono work that law firms perform on behalf of low-income people. The LSI Foundation will provide pro bono translation services to current subscribers of Pro Bono Manager™, Pro Bono Net’s practice management service for law firm pro bono programs.

LSI began its support of Pro Bono Net and our nonprofit partners’ translation requirements in 2011. Over the past year, the LSI Foundation provided more than $65,000 worth of translation services to Pro Bono Net.

Specific Pro Bono Net projects that have benefited from the LSI Foundation’s generous donation include LawHelp.org, a national online resource of referrals to legal aid programs, information about common civil legal issues, and access to self-help tools; LawHelp Interactive, an online legal document assembly service that enables those without access to an attorney to more easily address civil legal issues on their own; and CitizenshipWorks, which provides easy-to-use online tools to help immigrants navigate the naturalization process.

Martin Roberts, President of LSI, stated “When immigrants have a language problem, pro bono attorneys are frustrated in serving their clients unless competent language services are available. With 7,000 translators and interpreters, the LSI Foundation has the necessary language resources and is proud to provide them free of charge to Pro Bono Net.”

“Our ongoing partnership with the LSI Foundation has increased the level of assistance that law firms, courts, and legal aid groups can provide to those with limited proficiency in English,” said Adam Licht, Director of Product Management at Pro Bono Net.  “For the 25 million limited English proficient individuals in the U.S. there is a significant need for multilingual legal services to overcome barriers put in place by language, helping them address serious legal issues including domestic violence, child custody, and workers’ rights.”

# # #

Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation.  Pro Bono Net uses innovative web-based platforms—www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org, and www.lawhelpinteractive.org—to recruit and support volunteer lawyers and provide direct information and tools for self-representation to low-income communities.   Pro Bono Net has also developed Pro Bono Manager, pro bono practice management software that helps AmLaw 200 law firms increase pro bono participation, manage pro bono caseloads more efficiently, and raise internal and external awareness of pro bono efforts.  For more information, please visit www.probono.net.