Wisconsin Judicare Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The mission of Wisconsin judicare, inc. Dba judicare legal aid [jla] is to provide legal assistance to those who otherwise cannot afford it. Jla is committed to providing high quality legal services. Jla has staff that provide direct representation, as well as education for clients and their families, providing rights and responsibilities under the law. Staff members also provide education to the bar and the community in ways to address the diverse needs of our service population.during this fiscal year, jla provided legal services in 2,678 cases in various subjects. The breakdown of those subjects is below. To provide these services, jla used the services...(continued on schedule o)of nineteen paid staff attorneys, six legal advocates, four paralegals and 80 private attorneys and tribal lay advocates. Jla's work benefits the public in many ways. Cases move more quickly and more efficiently through the legal system when an attorney represents a party to the case. By providing attorneys to represent parties, jla empowers our low-income clients to achieve fairer outcomes and navigate an incredibly complicated legal system. Jla also plays a part supporting victims of violence as they face safety concerns, leaving an abusive spouse, or being the victim in a criminal case. Through jla's legal assistance, victims are equipped with the tools to help them toward a future of safety, stability, and healing. In addition to direct legal services, jla also provides resources for community members forced to engage with the legal system without an attorney, and free mediation to resolve eviction, debt, and other small claims cases outside of the court system. These programs increase our ability to help community members with legal questions, court forms, and finding solutions that can be beneficial for all involved. These programs help reduce unjust outcomes in our legal system that are fueled by inequity in access to legal information and representation. Finally, as jla is a recipient of federal legal services corporation funds, there is no longer a prohibition from requesting and receiving attorney fee awards. The legal services corporation regulations regarding this requirement were modified in december 2009. Jla does not collect fees for services from clients.case summary by subject:*1 adoption*12 adult guardianship/conservatorship*686 advanced directives/powers of attorney*178 bankruptcy/debtor relief*51 collect/repossession/defense/garnishment*17 criminal record expungement*292 custody/visitation*1 delinquent*1 discipline (including expulsion and suspension)*279 divorce/sep./annul.*50 domestic abuse*40 employee rights*4 employment discrimination*86 federally subsidized housing*12 food stamps*1 home and community based care*24 homeownership/real property (not foreclosure)*4 housing discrimination*8 indian/tribal law*13 licenses (drivers, occupational, and others)*3 loans/installment purchases (not collections)*2 long term health care facilities*9 medicaid*19 minor guardianship/conservatorship*40 mobile homes*26 mortgage foreclosures (not predatory lending/practices)*9 neglected/abused/dependent*2 other consumer/finance*1 other education*2 other employment*1 other family*2 other health*6 other housing*5 other income maintenance*24 other individual rights*3 other juvenile*8 pardons*6 parental rights termination*11 paternity*1 private health insurance*296 private landlord/tenant*44 public housing*2 public utilities*4 social security (not ssdi)*1 special education/learning disabilities*26 ssdi*60 ssi*1 state and local income maintenance*3 support*1 taxes (not eitc)*1 torts*41 unemployment compensation*10 wage claims and other flsa issues*248 wills and estates

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 67.5%; rating input score 68
• Program expense ratio: 66.8%; rating input score 67
• Fundraising efficiency: $26.24 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0.9%; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.53; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.35; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.9%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.7% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.4% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings