Financial support is a key issue for Eastern European NGOs, and many groups are now considering the advisability of seeking government support for their work. Nowicki stated that he believes this would be a mistake. Public interest law groups' main goal is to protect individual rights against the state, which would create a major potential conflict of interest if public funding were accepted. Nowicki concurred with Mdladla on the need for selectivity in developing the focus of legal assistance and litigation programs. Many Eastern European NGOs try to assist everyone, which constrains their effectiveness in the face of limited resources.
Staff development is another issue that needs increased attention.
Eastern European NGOs often believe that they do not have enough time or resources to invest in staff development and training. Yet, Nowicki pointed out, victims of human rights abuses require professional assistance, which must be developed. This makes it a small group for a national membership organization in the US context, and most of its state offices have only one or two staff members and no staff lawyers. A key issue for a public interest law organization, said Steinhardt, is what kind of legal service provider it seeks to be. The ACLU is within the second of these models and focuses on strategic impact litigation.