THE PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION WAS TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM. THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY IS A DEFENSE DELIVERY AGENCY WHICH HELPS PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO CAN NOT RETAIN THEIR OWN COUNSEL WHEN CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE DEFENDER OFFICE PROVIDES REPRESENTATION PRIMARILY IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT IN MISDEMEANOR CASES AND FELONY MATTERS THROUGH THE PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING STAGE. THE SPRING 1976 EVALUATION OF THIS AGENCY CONCENTRATED ON THE QUALITY OF SERVICES RENDERED AND THE COST OF THOSE SERVICES. DATA WERE COLLECTED THROUGH ONSITE VISITS AND THROUGH A DOCKET STUDY OF A SAMPLE OF FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CASES. THE ONSITE VISITS INCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH DEFENDER STAFF, PRIVATE LAWYERS, JUDGES, BAR ASSOCIATION LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FORMER CLIENTS, AND PERSONS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE EVALUATION RECOMMENDED CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE LEGAL AID PROGRAM. IN SPITE OF A NUMBER OF DEFICIENCIES, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY COMPARED WELL WITH OTHER LEGAL DEFENSE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. THE DEFICIENCIES UNCOVERED BY THE EVALUATION ARE AREAS FOR FUTURE ATTENTION. A QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT CANNOT YET BE PROVIDED. PITFALLS OF VARIOUS EVALUATION STRATEGIES ARE ALSO DETAILED. (MLC)