The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, nonprofit corporation established by the Legal Services Act of 1974, as amended (42 U. S. C. 2996), to seek to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans. LSC is headed by an 11-member Board of Directors, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. By law, the Board is bipartisan; no more than six members may be of the same political party. LSC is funded through congressional appropriations and provides legal services through grants to independent local programs selected through a system of competition.