By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Legal Services Alabama -- a legal resource group for the state's poor -- is losing about a fourth of its work force. Funding cutbacks will take effect next month. The agency will have to reduce its staff of attorneys from 66 to 50. Legal Services Alabama's goal was to have one attorney for each of the state's 67 counties. The agency relies heavily on federal money, which made up most of last year's budget. The current cuts will force the agency to close its offices in Decatur, Gadsden and Monroeville. Offices in other cities will remain open but will have fewer employees.