Kansas Legal Services Creates $74 million in Economic Impact for State

Date: August 7, 2024
 

Contact: Matthew Keenan, Executive Director
keenanm@klsinc.org

(Topeka) The legal assistance that Kansas Legal Services (KLS) provided in 2023 had an astounding $74 million impact on the state’s economy, according to a first- ever analysis that the nonprofit organization released today.  

For every $1 invested in KLS in 2023, the state of Kansas receives an estimated $7.49 of immediate and long-term financial benefits. 

The 52-page report, completed by Community Services Analysis, LLC, examined the immediate impact that KLS had for the 18,013 clients it served by calculating the fair market value of its legal services along with other metrics, such as monetary awards obtained for clients.   

The report also examined the longer-term impact KLS creates through these services. For example, its efforts to help clients expunge criminal records for non- violent offenses delivered the equivalent of $453,000 in legal services. But the long-term impact of those services amounted to $3.2 million generated by returning these clients back to the workforce.  

Another direct economic impact KLS creates is in the area of Social Security Disability. In 2023, KLS attorneys and paralegals helped 481 Kansans receive disability benefits in the amount of $2,963,000, with a long-term economic impact of $14,453,000. STATEWIDE STUDY 

The impact to Sedgwick County was $17,953,000. Read more here: SEDGWICK COUNTY STUDY. 

The study showed an economic impact in Johnson County of $4,609,000. Read more here: JOHNSON COUNTY STUDY. 

The study showed an economic impact in Riley County of 2.3 million dollars. Read more here: RILEY COUNTY STUDY. 

The study showed an economic benefit to Saline County of $594,000. Read more here:  SALINE COUNTY STUDY

A total of 1,271 legal aid cases were handled in Wyandotte County by KLS attorneys in 2023. The total net economic impact was $5.5 million. Read more here:  WYANDOTTE COUNTY STUDY