Report Shows 432% Social Return on Investment from Civil Legal Services
A new report from the Access to Justice Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) quantifies the economic value created by Minnesota’s civil legal aid providers in 2023. Data and analysis from the report shows a net economic impact of more than $239 million and that for every $1 invested in civil legal aid, the state yields $4.32 in immediate and long-term financial benefits. Some of these benefits include keeping kids in schools and families housed, and keeping people employed, which results in economic stability. In normal financial analysis, Return on Investment (ROI) is the ratio of money gained or lost relative to the money invested. For social service organizations such as legal aid, Social Return on Investment (SROI) measures both the immediate and long-term financial value created by organizations through delivery of services to the community. The new report’s analysis shows an impressive 432% SROI for civil legal aid.
Authored by Community Services Analysis LLC, data was reviewed from 11 civil legal aid organizations across Minnesota that provide a wide array of legal services to Minnesotans with low incomes. These services include representation and support in family law, housing, health care, public benefits, consumer protection, immigration and many other types of civil legal cases. The report offers highlights from Minnesota’s civil legal aid providers as well as details about methodology and a summary of SROI analysis value.
In its September article, Report tallies ‘social return’ on investment in civil legal aid, Minnesota Lawyer spoke with Bridget Gernander, program administrator of the state Board of Civil Legal Aid, who noted that the data consultant found Minnesota “very conservative” in how it collects data, and because of tracking real dollars and not estimating, the state can feel very confident in these numbers.
“It’s helpful to have this information to share so people understand the true impact on Minnesota,” said Dori Rapaport, executive director of Justice North, which serves Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis counties. “We hope it resonates in the philanthropic community, with federal funders and with state funders.”