You can also write or fax to:

FOIA Request
Office of Legal Affairs
Legal Services Corporation
3333 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20007-3522
(Fax) 202-337-6519

What information can I get through the FOIA? Are there records I can get without a FOIA request?

Yes. On our website, you will find information about the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and its grantees. You can access the LSC Act and Regulations, staff directory, grant application materials, list of grantees, appropriations acts, accounting guide, annual reports and more.

What kinds of records can I get through a FOIA request?

Here are some records which are ordinarily released (after deletion of certain information which is protected by the FOIA exemptions):

• grant application materials
• successful grant applications
• grant award letters
• audits of grantees
• reports on grantees

Does the FOIA allow access to all LSC records?

No. The FOIA allows LSC to protect certain information:

• internal agency rules and practices
• information that is prohibited from disclosure by another law
• trade secrets and other confidential business information
• inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges
• information involving matters of personal privacy
• information compiled for law enforcement purposes

What kind of information cannot be obtained through the FOIA?

We may withhold information that falls within any of the exemptions listed above. LSC most frequently withholds information to protect trade secrets, inter-agency communications, and personal privacy.

How will I know if information has been deleted from the records I receive?

Your copy of the records will indicate that information has been deleted and why.

Is there a fee?

Depending on the type of request, there may be a charge to recover the direct costs of search, review and duplication, unless these costs total less than $6.50. Our fee schedule is at §1602.13. ( 62k)

When you submit a request, you may tell us the maximum fee that you are willing to pay. If we estimate that the fee will be more than you are willing to pay, we will contact you before we proceed.

What kind of information should I include in my request letter?

Describe the LSC records you are seeking in enough detail so that we can be sure we understand your request and can locate the records with a reasonable effort. The more specific you are, the more likely that we will locate those records. Whenever possible, include specific information about the records you request, such as the date, title or name, author, recipient, and subject matter.

If we cannot locate the records because your request is not specific enough, we will contact you. Remember to tell us if there is a maximum amount you are willing to pay. And don’t forget to include your name and mailing address, and a daytime telephone number, too, in case we want to contact you quickly.

How long will I have to wait to receive the records I requested?

The FOIA allows us a period of 20 business days to respond to a request. This period of time may be extended to 30 days under unusual circumstances. If your request is particularly broad or so complex that it cannot be completed within the allotted time, we may ask you to narrow your request or agree to an additional delay. If the records you are requesting are available on our website, you may download them immediately.

What can I do if my FOIA request is denied?

If your request is denied, you have the right to file an administrative appeal with the president of LSC. Filing an administrative appeal is a simple process. You do not need a lawyer to help you write an appeal. Your letter should identify what you are appealing, and explain why you disagree with the agency’s decision. There is no charge for filing an administrative appeal.

Send or fax your administrative appeal to:

FOIA Request
Office of Legal Affairs
Legal Services Corporation
3333 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20007-3522
(Fax) 202-337-6519

For further information contact the FOIA Officer, Patricia Batie, in the Office of Legal Affairs at 202-295-1500 or pbatie@lsc.gov.

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