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 appointed by a variety of justice system stakeholders who facilitate and 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
Free Legal Answers Year in Review (2020)
It’s been remarkable to see how Wisconsin Free Legal Answers has grown in scope and importance during 2020. We are a virtual brief legal advice service for people who have questions about civil (non-criminal) problems. So, when almost everything else
Unemployment Law Training
The Commission is proud to have hosted a 4-part Zoom webinar training series on unemployment law for volunteer attorneys and law students with our co-sponsors: Legal Action of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Judicare, and Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics. The topic was split
Free Legal Answers Pandemic Update
Wisconsin Free Legal Answers, the online legal clinic sponsored by the Commission, has been a key component of the legal community’s pandemic response. As Wisconsin’s Safer at Home order went into effect, all free legal clinics and self-help desks were
Free Legal Answers year in review (2019)
Last year was another great year for Wisconsin Free Legal Answers. Here are the numbers for 2019 (with comparisons to 2018). 999 questions asked (up 20%) 948 questions answered (up 28%) 95% answer rate (up from 89%) We also went from
New video – What is civil legal aid and why is it so important?
Here is a great example of how to explain what civil legal aid is and why it’s so important. It’s a network of resources that help make justice available to everyone, not just those who can afford to pay for
Free Legal Answers Update
Wisconsin Free Legal Answers (WFLA) is having a good year thanks to the great efforts of our volunteers. WFLA is the online legal clinic established by the Commission in partnership with ABA Free Legal Answers to provide an opportunity for
