The American Samoa Legal Aid (ASLA) has been awarded a grant of $61,740 from the Legal Services Corporation to implement the Manua Islands Access to Legal Aid.
The project allows low income residents of the Manua islands to significantly improve their access to free civil legal aid services provided by ASLA.
The project will establish interview locations in Ta’u, Ofu and Olosega each with a desktop computer, scanner/printer and internet.
ASLA applicants and clients will be able to use these interview locations to directly connect to the ASLA Office on Tutuila island via Skype and the internet and be able to be interviewed, scan and receive documents and be provided with limited and extended legal aid services.
The TIG will also be used to establish the ASLA website.
The ASLA Board of Directors has encouraged expansion of ASLA services to the Manu’a islands since ASLA first opened its office at Pago Pago May 1, 2015.
ASLA has conducted community outreach meetings at Ta’u island in 2015 and Ofu and Olosega islands earlier in 2016. ASLA has also served and continue to serve clients who live in Manu’a.
ASLA Executive Director Fainu’uleleiL.P.F. Ala’ilima-Utu is grateful to Legal Services Corporation, the ASLA Board of Directors and pastors and members of the CCCAS Ofu, CCCAS Olosega, CCCAS Faleasao and AOG Fitiuta churches for their support of ASLA’s efforts to provide free civil legal aid services to the low income residents of Manu’a.
Fainu’ulelei comments that both the church and ASLA share a common goal to help the poor and the disadvantaged obtain access to justice.
