Gates Foundation grants $3 million to legal aid

By Associated Press

Summary

Financially struggling legal aid offices in Washington state will soon get some relief from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Story Published: Oct 29, 2009 at 5:44 PM PST

Story Updated: Oct 29, 2009 at 5:44 PM PST

Gates Foundation grants $3 million to legal aid

Bill Gates, right, and his wife Melinda speak to students at an appearance at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

SEATTLE (AP) - Financially struggling legal aid offices in Washington state will soon get some relief from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Seattle-based foundation has pledged to give $3 million during the next three years to 26 offices that provide legal services to low-income people.

Legal aid offices have been battered in the economic downturn. The majority of their money comes from interest accounts of funds that lawyers hold in trust for their clients. All 50 states have some form of a law that earmarks such money for legal services for the poor.

The Legal Aid for Washington Fund says dropping interest rates and other factors combined for a 80 percent dive in funds in Washington.