Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American  Samoa  Legal  Aid  (ASLA) recently received notice from James Sandman, president of Legal Services Corporation (LSC), that LSC has awarded a three-year Basic Field Grant of $262,000 per year to the ASLA.

This is according to an announcement by ASLA executive director Fainu’ulelei  L.P.F.  Ala’ilima-Utu.

Three  years is the maximum funding term for an LSC Basic Field Grant award.   

In a media release, ASLA  said it is "grateful to LSC for funding ASLA’s efforts to assist American Samoa’s low income residents in the fight to eliminate barriers to justice.   

"This  year  has  been  the  busiest  year"  in  ASLA’s  3-year/7-month history. 

In 2018, ASLA opened 885 cases as of Dec. 27, 2018 compared to 706 cases ASLA opened the year before in  2017. Despite  the partial federal government shutdown Dec, 21, 2018, ASLA has  managed to keep all of its staff working and paid.        

ASLA wishes its clients, partners, and supporters a Happy New Year.