2025 IOLTA Report

January 17, 2025 by Belodoff

IOLTA Grant Summary

The Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (“IOLTA”) program works with members of the Idaho State Bar and the Idaho banking community to place client funds into interest bearing accounts. Participating banks remit interest earned to the Idaho Law Foundation who distributes these funds through the IOLTA grant process to programs serving the public. In accordance with Idaho Bar Commission Rule 1309, funds are awarded to organizations that provide legal aid to the poor, law related education programs for the public, scholarships and student loans, and improve the administration of justice.

Idaho’s IOLTA program has distributed over $8 million in grants in its almost 40-year history. For 2025, IOLTA granted a record amount for one year, $600,000 to organizations serving Idaho students, individuals, and families.

ILF Law Related Education program For support of democracy education for young people. Program components include a statewide mock trial competition for high school students, teacher training, resource materials, Lawyers in the Classroom and Citizens' Law Academy. $122,000 University of Idaho College of Law To award scholarships to encourage and support students to serve in internships and externships or pro bono service in rural communities throughout the state of Idaho. $12,000 Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. For civil legal assistance to low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Funds will be allocated among ILAS offices for client representation, including protection orders, divorce, custody, modifications, wrongful evictions, and other legal actions. $223,000 ILF Idaho Volunteer Lawyers program For general support of Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program which provides legal services to Idaho's poor through referral of appropriate civil cases to volunteer attorneys statewide. $135,000 Treasure Valley YMCA Youth in Government program For scholarship funds for youth who otherwise would not be able to attend the annual statewide model legislative and judicial session for high school students. - YMCA Youth in Government $1,500.00 Idaho 4-H Know Your Government Conference For general support of the Idaho State 4-H Know Your Government Conference which provides 8th and 9th grade Idaho 4-H members an opportunity to participate in a mock legislative session and learn about the Idaho judicial system. $1,500.00 International Rescue Committee To strengthen the immigration legal services to support low to moderate income refugee clients in the Treasure Valley, with a specific focus on filing adjustment status applications for refugee clients. $50,000 Jesse Tree To support Jesse Tree’s programs in Ada and Canyon County eviction courts, specifically to sustain a Eviction Court Case Manager position. $55,000