DOJ Access to Justice Leader Makes Longevity a Paramount Concern

A re-booted Justice Department office that aims to expand legal services for people who can’t afford lawyers is working to ensure its survival after being defunded under President Donald Trump.

The Office for Access to Justice is reaching out to potential allies and spreading the word about its impact while seeing hope in legislation that would make the operation permanent, said Rachel Rossi, the office’s director.

“Longevity of this work is critical,” Rossi said in an interview. “We can’t be the office that is here four years and gone four years.”

President Barack Obama’s administration established the office in 2010 ...