The American Samoa Legal Aid (ASLA) has received a clean or unmodified 2018 Annual Audit opinion from its external auditor Deloitte and Touche.
ASLA Executive Director Fainu’ulelei Ala’ilima-Utu is grateful to God, ASLA’s accountant May & Associates, consultant, Board financial adviser, ASLA staff and Board President Larry Sanitoa, Vice President Lornalei Meredith, Secretary/Treasurer Marian McGuire and Board Members Aaron Thomas and Ipu Avegalio Lefiti.
Fainu’ulelei said: “Viia le Atua that ASLA has filed with the Legal Services Corporation a timely, clean and unmodified annual audit opinion from Deloitte and Touche for both financial and compliance for four consecutive years: 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.”
In 2018, ASLA had more grants than before and ASLA opened more cases than before, a total of 889 cases including 261 FEMA cases and ASLA closed about 656 cases.
ASLA’s clean external audits show grantors that ASLA is able to manage and properly account for its finances and comply with numerous regulations.
ASLA’s free civil legal services help American Samoa’s low-income residents access justice, obtain minor guardianships, disaster assistance, Civil Protection Orders, child support etc.
The Executive Director said, “ASLA is working hard to close the Justice Gap between our low-income residents’ unmet civil legal needs and the free civil legal assistance ASLA provides.
“This is important because American Samoa has the highest poverty rate of any U.S. state or territory, the lowest minimum wage of any U.S. state or territory, the fewest lawyers per capita, the fewest volunteer attorneys per capita and local private attorneys charging an average of $150 per hour.”