The Kentucky Equal Justice Center (KEJC), founded in 1976, was a nonprofit public-interest legal advocacy organization based in Lexington that promoted equal justice for low-income and vulnerable Kentuckians through impact litigation, policy advocacy, community legal services (including the Maxwell Street Legal Clinic), coalition building, and public education. KEJC announced it would close operations at the end of July 2025.
Focused on poverty law and systemic reforms including housing justice and tenant protections, access to health care and Medicaid, immigrant legal services, workers' rights and wage recovery, consumer protection and fair lending, long-term care and nursing home advocacy, and related legislative and administrative reforms that affect low-income Kentuckians.
Primarily supported by foundation grants and philanthropic donations, supplemented by individual contributions, fee recoveries from legal cases, and periodic government or grant funding.
Maxwell Street Legal Clinic (program), partnerships with Kentucky legal aid offices and local advocacy coalitions, ties to national poverty-law organizations such as the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and senior staff including the organization's legal leadership.
Non-profit public-interest legal advocacy organization (501(c)(3))
