The Legal Services Corporation

and The Client Voice

2015 NLADA Meeting

Julie Reiskin, Member, LSC Board of Directors

James J. Sandman, LSC President

Last year you asked for

• Clarification about client eligibility for board service

• Client involvement in LSC program visits • LSC’s Performance Criteria

Our Response

• Program Letter issued to clarify that client- eligible board members must be income- eligible at time of appointment

If client -eligible board member has a change in circumstances and income increases during his/her term, that person can stay for that term.

Our Response• Julie Reiskin accompanied LSC staff on a Program Quality

Visit)to see how the visit is conducted and how clients could fit in.

• Staff developed a proposal to pilot client participation which will begin in early 2016.

• Proposed pilot includes three visits • Focus will be on client board members, client treatment (intake, attitudes, and

involvement of client community)• Reviewers will be client-eligible but NOT connected with an LSC grantee program—

mostly client board members on NON-LSC boards. • Reviewers will be trained for the job and will be compensated.

Program Visits

• What we have done

» Next Steps

Performance Criteria

• LSC’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee heard what clients have said and will be reviewing performance criteria over the next 18 months.

• Any review will involve ALL stakeholders.• These criteria are adopted based on standards set by

the American Bar Association, so LSC should not just make changes on its own.

• We would like your input. •

http://www.lsc.gov/media-center/publications/lsc-performance-criteria

What We Have Learned

• Over the year in our discussions with clients, we learned that not all client board members are getting adequate training on the financial oversight requirements of board members.

• We are going to review the basics.

• http://www.stayexempt.irs.gov/

Money Matters

Other Financial Issues

• Profit and Loss• Balance Sheet • Annual Budget• Comparison to budget• Comparison to last year• Cash flow Projections

• Better Business Bureau• Board Source • State-level nonprofit

trade organization

Financial Policies

• Reimbursement (including travel)• Gift Acceptance • Procurement • Credit card use• Vendor agreements• Conflict of interest • Property acquisition

Client Board MembersThere is a requirement to have 1/3 members be client-eligible representatives

• What can LSC do to support client board members?

• What are best practices for recruiting client board members?

• What is and is not working for client board members?

Your Comments Are Always Welcome

• sandman@lsc.gov • 3333 K Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20007 202.295.1515

• Julie Reiskin, Client Eligible Board Member

• jreiskin@ccdconline.org• 303-667-4216 (cell) • 3645 Milwaukee Street

Denver, CO 80205