Accessing critical legal research tools just got easier for eight legal services agencies thanks to the PBA YLD, the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation and LexisNexis.

At the PBA Young Lawyers Division Annual Meeting held Aug. 1�2 at the Rocky Gap Resort in Cumberland Maryland, LexisNexis presented the YLD and the PBF with a check for $86,400 worth of legal research time.

The research hours are distributed through the PBA YLD/PBF Pro Bono Grant Project, an initiative that annually solicits grant applications from the legal services community. This year eight organizations sought in excess of 800 hours of legal research time.

�The Pro Bono Grants Project was created in partnership with the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation to foster and support programs than enable the delivery of pro bono legal representation throughout the commonwealth,� PBA YLD Chair Judge Todd Seelig said. �It�s just one of the ways the YLD and the PBF can work at the state level to help to ensure that all citizens have equal access to justice.�

Tim Riley, president of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, agrees. �Having access to legal research tools is an essential part of providing meaningful access to justice. Thanks to LexisNexis, the Pro Bono Grants Project was able to offer some assistance to every one of the grant applicants.�

The eight grant recipients are: CASA/Youth Advocates, Inc.; the Legal Clinic for the Disabled; The Homeless Advocacy Project; Mid-Penn Legal Services; the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center; the Senior Law Center; Women Against Abuse; and the Women�s Law Project.