The National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) reports that the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) voted unanimously to eliminate the regulatory restriction on LSC grantees claiming, collecting and retaining attorneys' fees during its meeting on Saturday, January 30, 2010.

This action is consistent with the change that was made in the 2010 appropriations bill that was signed into law on December 16, 2009.

According to the report, the board directed the LSC staff to publish an interim final rule, with an opportunity for comment. The rule, which should be published in the Federal Register early next week, will be effective 30 days from publication.

The interim final rule will permit LSC programs to claim attorneys' fees for all work for which fees are still available, regardless of when the work for which the fees are claimed was done. LSC will suspend enforcement of the current Part 1642 for all actions that were taken on or after December 16, 2009 to claim, collect or retain attorneys' fees.

NLADA is the nation's leading advocate for front-line attorneys and other equal justice professionals - those who make a difference in the lives of low-income clients and their families and communities.