42 U.S.C. § 2996
Section 2996 · Congressional findings and declaration of purpose
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 84 court decisions — leading case Alyeska Pipeline Service Company v. Wilderness Society (1975)
Most recently applied in 894 F. Supp. 2d 916 - Saldivar v. Rodela (October 2012)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
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 and assist in improving opportunities for low-income persons consistent with the purposes of this chapter;
(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.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Amendments
1977—Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–222 inserted provision relating to assistance in improving opportunities for low-income persons consistent with this chapter.
Effective Date of 1977 Amendment
Section 17(b) of Pub. L. 95–222 provided that: “The amendments made by provisions of this Act other than sections 11 and 15 [amending this section and sections 2996c, 2996e, 2996f, 2996g, 2996h, 2996i, and 2996j of this title] shall be effective on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 28, 1977].”
Short Title of 1977 Amendment
Section 1 of Pub. L. 95–222 provided that: “This Act [amending this section and sections 2996c and 2996e to 2996j of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2701, 2996, 2996f and 2996i of this title] may be cited as the ‘Legal Services Corporation Act Amendments of 1977’.”
Short Title
Pub. L. 93–355, §1, July 25, 1974, 88 Stat. 378, provided: “That this Act [enacting this subchapter and section 2971e of this title, amending section 2809 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 2809 and 2996b of this title] may be cited as the ‘Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974’.”
Pub. L. 88–452, title X, §1014, as added by Pub. L. 93–355, §2, July 25, 1974, 88 Stat. 378, provided that: “This title [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the ‘Legal Services Corporation Act’.”