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PUBLIC LAW 93-355-JULY 25, 1974

[88 STAT.

Public Law 93-355 July 25.1974

AN ACT

[H. R. 7824]

To amend the Economic Opportunity Act of 1984 to provide for the transfer of the legal services program from the Office of Economic Opportunity to a Legal Services Corporation, and for other purposes.

co^^oritionAcl^ of 1974. 42 USC 2 996 42 USC 2701

Be it eifiacted by the Sena'e ami House of Representatives of the T/mi^ec? States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "I^gal Services Corporation Act of 1974". gj,^.^ 2. The Economic Opportmiity Act of 19C4 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new title:

note.

" TITLE X — L E G A L SERVICES CORPORATION xiCT "STATEMENT or

42 USC 2996.

FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE

"SEC. 1001. The Congress finds and declares that— "(1) there is a need to provide equal access to the system of justice in our Nation for individuals who seek redress of grievances; "(2) there is a need to provide high quality legal assistance to those who would be otherwise unable to afford adequate legal counsel and to continue the present vital legal services program; "(3) providing legal assistance to those who face an economic barrier to adequate legal counsel will serve best the ends of justice; "(4) for many of our citizens, the availability of legal services has reaffirmed faith in our government of laws; "(5) to preserve its strength, the legal services program must be kept free from the influence of or use by it of political pressures; and "(6) attorneys providing legal assistance must have full freedom to protect the best interests of their clients in keeping with the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Canons of Ethics, and the high standards of the legal profession. U

42 USC 2996a.

DEFINITIONS

"SEC. 1002. As used in this title, the term— "(1) 'Board' means the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation; " (2) 'Corporation' means the Legal Services Corporation established under this title; "(3) 'eligible client' means any person financially unable to afford legal assistance; "(4) 'Governor' means the chief executive officer of a State; " (5) 'legal assistance' means the provision of any legal services consistent with the purposes and provisions of this title; "(6) 'recipient' means any grantee, contractee, or recipient of financial assistance described in clause (A) of section 1006(a)(1); "(7) 'staff attorney' means an attorney who receives more than one-half of his annual professional income from a recipient organized solely for the provision of legal assistance to eligible clients under this title; and "(8) 'State' means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

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