Finding Text
Finding 2023-001: Compliance finding – Governing Bodies
Legal Services Corporation
Basic Field Grant (ALN# 09.130010)
Condition: As of December 31, 2023, the Board of Directors was composed of other members representing 7.14%, client members representing 35.72%, and attorney members representing 57.14%. Attorney members were less than the required 60% of the board of directors.
Criteria or specific requirement: At least sixty percent (60%) of a governing body shall be attorney members.
Cause: Lack of oversight by management.
Effect: Governing body may not reasonably reflect the interests of the eligible clients in the area served or consist of members who are supportive of the purposes of the Legal Services Corporation Act and have an interest in, and knowledge of, the delivery of quality legal services to the poor.
Questioned costs: No questioned costs were identified.
Recommendation: A procedure be implemented to ensure that the Organization remains in compliance and does an internal review to ensure that board composition is maintained. Each set of board meeting minutes could contain a snapshot showing calculation of board composition in response to the requirements of 45 CFR 1607.3.