Talk Justice, an LSC Podcast: Senator Ben Cardin on Equal Justice and Supporting Legal Aid
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Carl Rauscher
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WASHINGTON – United States Senator Ben Cardin joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss his perspective on access to justice as a legislator and lawyer on the latest episode of LSC's “Talk Justice” podcast, released today.
Before he was Maryland’s senior U.S. senator, Cardin was elected to the state’s general assembly between his third and fourth year of law school.
“[Studying law] really did show me that as a legislator I could help do what lawyers are responsible [for doing] and that is to strengthen our legal system, to protect the rule of law, to provide opportunities—that’s what lawyers are about,” says Sen. Cardin. “We want the system of equal justice under the law, and legislators can do a lot to make that a reality.”
Sen. Cardin attended the release of LSC’s most recent Justice Gap report and gave remarks about the report’s sobering findings: low-income Americans received no or inadequate legal help for 92% of the civil legal problems that impacted them substantially.
“Those numbers should shock all of us if we believe—as I hope Americans believe—in equal justice under the law,” Sen. Cardin says on the podcast. “The other part of that statistic is if you didn't have adequate legal advice, your chance of a successful outcome is very much diminished, so we're not providing equal justice because so many people are denied that opportunity.”
During his time serving as Representative of Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District, Cardin served as Chairman of Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) from 1988 to 1995. He also helped institute the “Cardin Requirement” at the University of Maryland’s Francis King Carey School of Law. The rule requires full-time law students to provide legal services to the poor or people who otherwise lack access to justice in order to graduate.
“They're providing thousands and thousands of hours of really top-notch legal services in these clinics to individuals who otherwise would not get that service, so they're providing direct help to people to fill the gap,” Sen. Cardin says. “But more importantly, our law students are getting a sensitivity to their responsibilities to help [through] pro bono and elsewhere to fill the [justice] gap in their professional lives.”
Sen. Cardin is a dedicated supporter of LSC and civil legal aid. He explains that his time chairing MLSC has given him a lasting appreciation for the importance of civil legal aid.
“Most of our legal service programs could use additional funding, so their case load is usually heavier than it should be, they work under very challenging circumstances and they provide incredibly valuable help to preserve our legal system,” says Sen. Cardin. “So, what I learned is to admire those that are willing to really step forward and do the lion’s share of work to help lower-income families deal with the challenges of our legal system, where legal services are absolutely essential.”
Talk Justice episodes are available online and on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple and other popular podcast apps. The podcast is sponsored by LSC’s Leaders Council.
The next episode of the podcast will feature a conversation about the current state of remote court and if virtual court options should be expanded.