The Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP) provides support services statewide for legal aid programs and other poverty law advocates. Our goals are:
- support the advocacy of civil legal aid programs;
- coordinate advocacy for low income individuals and families in Michigan;
- assure that a full range of advocacy continues on behalf of the poor; and
- lead policy and systemic advocacy efforts in Michigan on behalf of low income families and vulnerable populations.
MPLP coordinates with the University of Michigan Law School (UMLS) Clinical Law Program, and regional legal services programs throughout Michigan, but is legally and programmatically separate from these organizations. We work directly with local advocates by providing open access to case consultation, co-counseling, or referrals for current clients; through regular task force meetings that respond to locally-identified training needs; and through frequent publications alerting advocates to legal developments.
MPLP encourages all civil legal aid program staff to contact the appropriate MPLP staff person for guidance and assistance with client matters, to sign up for and be active participants in the list serves relevant to their daily work, and to attend MPLP’s task forces, substantive law trainings and skills trainings that are offered throughout the year.
Click the following links for training and meeting schedules: