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Welcome

The Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission was created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court at the request of the State Bar of Wisconsin to aid the courts in improving the administration of justice. Our mission is to develop and encourage means of expanding access to the civil justice system for unrepresented low-income Wisconsin residents. 

Who are we?

We are volunteers who encourage innovation, collaboration, and coordination to help improve the civil legal aid system in Wisconsin.  We help ensure that good ideas get the consideration and support that they deserve.

What is civil legal aid?

It is the network of public and private resources that ensure fairness for all in the justice system, regardless of how much money you have. It includes online self-help resources and forms, volunteers, and staffed legal services offices. Together, they help build stronger communities. Watch this short explainer video below to learn more.

Civil Legal Aid Animated Video Explainer – Produced by Illinois Equal Justice Foundation and The Kresge Foundation from Voices for Civil Justice on Vimeo.

WISATJ News

Notes from the bench

Hon. Thomas Hruz, Wisconsin Court of Appeal, District 3;Access to Justice Commission Member The importance of suitable civil legal representation in Wisconsin cannot be understated. Indeed, it improves our civil justice system in a number of important ways. These include,

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Change at the Commission

The Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission is in the process of transitioning staff support for the Commission from the State Bar of Wisconsin to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF). Since we were created by the court in 2009, the

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Free Legal Answers Year In Review

Our Wisconsin Free Legal Answers online legal clinic project ended 2022 on another high note with 56 volunteers answering 1,824 legal questions and assisting 1,716 clients. Over 9,200 questions have been received since the program launched in 2016. The website

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12 Months of Free Legal Answers in Wisconsin

Over the last 12 months (through June 30, 2022) volunteer lawyers have assisted 1,638 individuals and families with their legal issues through Wisconsin Free Legal Answers. With over 360 registered volunteer attorneys, the project is a significant resource for Wisconsin

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More Law Students on the Front Lines

In March 2021, the Wisconsin Supreme Court approved a rule change requested by the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission to update the law student practice rule in SCR Chapter 50. The changes made it easier for more law students to

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Wistaf funding update

Rebecca L. Murray, Executive Director, Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. Wisconsin has roughly one WisTAF-funded civil legal aid attorney for every 4,300 people in the state with incomes below 125% of the federal poverty level. In other words, if you

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