Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.

Each year we are grateful for the opportunity to the educate our Wisconsin congressional delegation about the value of legal aid and the good work we do with LSC funds in their districts. In 2024 we worked over 10,000 cases, helping 1,577 families with children, 2,431 older adults, 536 veterans, 1,236 rural residents and 1,644 victims of crime. We were honored to collaborate with fellow Midwestern legal aid programs on a panel highlighting the critical work legal aid providers do to help people in crisis. Thank you Legal Services Corporation, Legal Services of North Dakota, Judicare Legal Aid, & Legal Aid Chicago!

Yesterday was a victory for justice and fairness in Wisconsin! The Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted Rule Petition 24-05, which will increase from $50 to $100 the assessment which Wisconsin attorneys pay to provide funding for civil legal aid over the next two years. These funds will be distributed by WisTAF, to legal aid firms, like us, to provide critical legal services to those most in need. We are so grateful to all who came out in support of this petition. Civil legal aid not only helps the clients who receive services, but it allows courts to run more efficiently, increases trust in the legal system, and helps judges effectively administer justice. A worthy cause for the courts to support!

This week my Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. colleagues Brenda Lewison and Larry Dupuis filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission. Legal Action’s amicus brief outlines the history of unemployment insurance and the potential consequences if SCOTUS overturns the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision: "Historical experience and economic evidence compel the conclusion that unemployment insurance works best - for workers and their families and for the economy as a whole - when all employers must pay their fair share, with carefully tailored exemptions kept to a minimum." Counsel from the Economic Policy Institute, The Century Foundation, National Employment Law Project, Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, and the Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association joined in the amicus brief, which you can read at the link below. SCOTUS will hear oral arguments in the case on March 31, 2025. https://lnkd.in/g9Ya9WiE

A huge thank you to all of our generous donors during The Big Share! With your contributions, we were able to raise over $9,700 during this giving event. We are proud to share that this year, we raised over 10x more than last year - earning us a $500 match from Madison Community Foundation! We could not do it without all of the overwhelming support. Our donation page is still live until March 11th! Visit https://lnkd.in/eNDjAsm6 to learn more about our work. Community Shares of Wisconsin #CSWTheBigShare #GiveDays #LegalAid #LAWI

Our first Power Hour is in the books! Give it up for Wisconsin Conservation Voices and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance on earning an extra $2000, courtesy of Madison Community Foundation. 🥳

Today is the big day! Whether it's your own campaign or on behalf of a participating non profit organization, please consider donating today. Tons of events and prizes too! Visit https://lnkd.in/dpiTXh9z to attend any of the many live panels for today! Thank you for your generous support! Community Shares of Wisconsin #CSWTheBigShare #GiveDays #LegalAid #LAWI

This is the moment to take a stand. Community Shares of Wisconsin and our member nonprofits fight for DEI, trans rights, immigration, and renewable energy—but the new federal administration is actively working against these causes. With federal funding uncertain, grassroots support is more important than ever. We won’t back down, and neither should you. Donate or start a fundraiser for #CSWBigShare now through March 4. Let’s show them our values are not negotiable. Link in bio. Image description: A circular portrait of Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. Managing Attorney Stacia Conneely is on a graphic that reads, "Our organization has been a proud member of CSW for decades. CSW helped me become a more confident and knowledgeable leader for my organization. Recently, it has supported me and other nonprofit leaders by facilitating a regular group meeting, where we learn from each other how to handle systemic inequality and lean on each other for support and a sense of community."

Tomorrow is the big event! Please consider joining us and Community Shares of Wisconsin for a day of giving and conversation. Our very own, Megan Sprecher, will be participating in a panel about creating safe spaces for the communities we serve! The program will be streamed live on thebigshare.org, and will feature local entertainment, prize announcements, discussions about social and environmental justice, and more. Visit https://lnkd.in/dpiTXh9z to learn about all of the organizations participating in this day of giving! Thank you for your generous support! #CSWTheBigShare #GiveDays #LegalAid #LAWI

In 4 days, Community Shares of Wisconsin is hosting The Big Share, a day of giving to bring awareness to important work that local organizations are doing. Visit https://lnkd.in/eNDjAsm6 to learn more about our firm and support our work! Community Shares of Wisconsin #CSWTheBigShare #GiveDays #LegalAid

Stacia Conneely is the Managing Attorney at CSW Member group Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. They are the state’s largest non-profit law firm providing free civil legal services. The structural change litigation and advocacy they provide has led to a number of legal milestones, including eliminating racial and gender discrimination in Milwaukee Fire and Police departments, marriage equality, and the right to correct misinformation on criminal records. Structural change work aims to make change that impacts as many people as possible. We get a number of calls to our office for people looking for help. The majority of calls are people looking for legal assistance and they are the #1 place that I send folks to for referrals. What does Stacia have to say about Community Shares of Wisconsin? "Our organization has been a proud member of CSW for decades. CSW helped me become a more confident and knowledgeable leader for my organization. Recently, it has supported me and other nonprofit leaders by facilitating a regular group meeting, where we learn from each other how to handle systemic inequality and lean on each other for support and a sense of community." You can support Legal Action Wisconsin and Community Shares of Wisconsin during The Big Share on Tuesday, March 4!