2005 Equal Justice Conference - Workshop Materials

A Hidden Treasure: Involving Law Students in the Delivery of Legal Services

Elizabeth Berenguer, Volunteer Lawyer's Program of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Megan Blamble, Equal Justice Works, Washington, DC
Rhonda Chung-de Cambre, Three Rivers Legal Services, Gainesville, FL
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Presenter Bios
Document Available: Three Rivers Legal Services law student volunteer materials

Involving law students in the delivery of pro bono legal services can expand services to clients and expose students to the need for pro bono. This workshop will highlight the benefits of partnering with law schools and will examine different models which integrate law students into the delivery of legal services. Through a facilitated discussion, participants will identify strategies for tackling some of the challenges of working with this population and will learn effective practices to recruit, train and supervise law students.

A Law Firm Perspective on Developing Pro Bono Partnerships

Kimberly Frost, Vinson & Elkins, Austin, TX
George Hettrick, Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond, VA
William E. Lawler, III, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Washington, DC
Rita Sheffey, Hunton & Williams LLP, Atlanta, GA
Travis Vanderpool, Hunton & Williams LLP, Dallas, TX
Document Available: Topical Outline

Viewed from the law firm perspective, this program presents innovative ideas for legal services to partner with law firms to better serve legal aid clients. Topics include: how training can be used most effectively; what types of model forms and policies can best support law firm pro bono programs; and how law firm partnerships can fill the gaps created by legislated limits on LSC-funded organizations.

A Winning Combination: Corporate Law Departments, Law Firms, and Legal Service Providers Working Together

Kristin Booth Glen, CUNY School of Law at Queens College, Flushing, NY
Esther Lardent, Pro Bono Institute at GULC, Washington, DC
Angela Zemboy, Community Legal Resources, Detroit, MI
Document Available: Hobish Outline
Document Available: Pro Bono Partnership 2003 Annual Report
Document Available: Community Legal Resources 2003 Annual Report
Document Available: Zemboy Outline

This presentation will highlight successful and innovative models for producing pro bono partnerships among corporate law departments, law firms and legal service providers. Representatives from the Pro Bono Institute, the Pro Bono Partnership, and a legal services organization that works through the ABA's A Business Commitment (ABC) will discuss tips for planning effective partnerships, developing three-way pro bono projects and taking advantage of the attributes that each of these entities offers for coordinating effective pro bono representation.

Avoiding Burnout: Concrete Practices to Stay Energized

Sharon Browning, Philadelphia VIP, Philadelphia, PA
Steven B. Scudder, ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Chicago, IL

The work of providing legal representation for clients on the social margins is highly stressful for both program staff and pro bono attorneys. This workshop will continue the conversation about the causes of stress and burnout begun in the 2004 EJC workshop, with an emphasis on concrete practices for both avoiding and handling the stresses inherent in the practice of poverty law. In a relaxed, interactive environment, participants will be encouraged to identify beliefs and practices that promote health and well-being in both public and private sector legal work environments.

Bridging the Gap Between Legal Services & Business Pro Bono

Cynthia Bast, Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP, Austin, TX
David Hall, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Weslaco, TX
Kathleen Hopkins, Real Property Group, Seattle, WA
Frances Leos Martinez, Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources, Austin, TX
Document Available: Handout
Document Available: Outline

How can legal services staff partner with pro bono business lawyers? Join us in this opening session to learn how the ABA Business Law Section has worked to bridge the gap. Learn from our host business pro bono provider Texas C-BAR how they have linked the work of Texas Rural Legal Aid and volunteer business lawyers to promote economic benefits throughout Texas.

Building Strength and Quality Through Difference: Effective Diversity Training and Best Practices

Jacqui Bowman, Greater Boston Legal Services, Boston, MA
Myra Hindus, Massachusetts Legal Services Diversity Coalition, Boston, MA
Lillian Moy, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany, NY

Legal Services programs serve diverse client communities and collaborate with community partners that hold diversity and cultural competency as fundamental values. The effectiveness and quality of legal service programs and pro bono programs is a function of the willingness to include diversity as a critical success factor in their operation. Diversity training and programs are a critical component in the management of diversity and difference. This workshop will highlight best practices for developing diversity programming and training.

Combating the Website Blues

Kathleen Caldwell, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc., Bangor, ME
Ayn H. Crawley, Maryland Legal Assistance Network/Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Liz Keith, Pro Bono Net, New York, NY
Becky Levine, National Technology Assistance Project, San Diego, CA

This session will discuss tips and "tricks" for outreach and content development as well as lessons learned in developing statewide websites. Highlighted web features will include client education and pro se materials, staff pages, research databases and pro bono sites for volunteer attorneys.

Connecting with Diverse Communities: Innovative Partnerships for Equal Justice

Roberta Chambers, Law Office of Roberta Chambers, Queens Village, NY
Lovely Dhillon, Law School Consortium, San Francisco, CA
Camille D. Holmes, CLASP, Washington, DC
Lillian Johnson, Community Legal Services, Inc., Phoenix, AZ
Document Available: Law School Consortium Project Information
Document Available: Power Point Presentation

Core Capacities of Pro Bono Business Providers

Sean Delany, Lawyers Alliance for New York, New York, NY
Susan Kaplan, Community Economic Development Law Project, Chicago, IL
Guy Lescault, A Business Commitment, Atlanta, GA
Michael L. Monahan, State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Center, Atlanta, GA
Maureen Thornton Syracuse, The District of Columbia Bar, Washington, DC
Angela Zemboy, Community Legal Resources, Detroit, MI
Document Available: Core Capacities of Pro Bono Business Providers Outline

Experienced pro bono providers will discuss the core capacities that every pro bono business provider must have and the benchmarks to developing a successful program with sufficient resources; supportive case management systems; systemic client outreach; pro-active training programs; and effective volunteer recruitment.

Court Based Self-Help Centers: Opportunity for Funding and Increased Services for Legal Services Programs

Sherna Deamer, Superior Court of Contra Costa City, California
Bonnie Hough, Administrative Office of the Courts, San Francisco, California
Glenn Rawdon, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Wayne Moore, AARP, Washington, DC

The movement to fund and create self-help centers in courts is well established and growing. Learn how to become part of this movement and new area of funding. Learn how legal services programs can contract with courts to provide this service and the added benefit this creates for clients.

Courting Pro Bono: Successfully Involving the Judiciary in Pro Bono

Judges from Colorado and New York will discuss how active judicial leadership plays a critical role in developing and expanding pro bono opportunities. Find out about the recently passed Colorado rule providing CLE credit for pro bono work and the efforts by New York to increase pro bono participation in a more comprehensive manner through the leadership of the state court's Office of Justice Initiatives.

Creating Pro Bono Partnerships To Serve Homeless and Runaway Youth

Zenaida Alonzo, Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago, IL
David Hall, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Weslaco, TX
Kara Nyquist, Covenant House Alaska, Anchorage, AK
Document Available: Outline

Homeless and at-risk youth struggle with many legal issues and need assistance on a variety of civil and criminal matters. Learn about the special legal problems faced by homeless youth and how pro bono attorneys can provide assistance. Panelists will provide participants concrete guidance on how to set up and administer a new pro bono partnership or project.

Cy Pres: Developing an Effective Strategy

Jan Allen May, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Washington, DC
Nancy Mischel, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, MN
Patricia Pap, Management Information Exchange, Boston, MA
Linda Zazove, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, East St. Louis, MO

Yes, it is true that some programs have realized hundreds of thousands of dollars from cy pres and related court awards. In this workshop you will find out how your program might work closely with the bar and the courts to develop a planned strategy for tapping into this resource.

Defining Pro Bono in the 21st Century: Policy Updates for 2005

Cynthia Feathers, Department of Pro Bono Affairs, New York State Bar Association, Albany, NY
Sharon Goldsmith, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Kimberly A. Mucha, Clark County Legal Services Program, Inc., Las Vegas, NV
Document Available: Feathers Outline
Document Available: COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND LAWYER PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICE REPORT
Document Available: KEY FINDINGS FROM 2003 MARYLAND PRO BONO REPORTING RESULTS

Learn about ongoing pro bono policy developments around the country, with a focus on Maryland, Nevada and New York. Representatives from Nevada and Maryland will discuss the continuing evolution of mandatory pro bono reporting and how it is affecting the culture and delivery of pro bono services in their states. Also, hear about the process of revising the definition of 'pro bono' for inclusion in New York State's ethical rules for attorneys.

Designing, Implementing and Funding a Comprehensive Children's Legal Services Project in Your Program

Patrick Gardner, National Center for Youth Law, Oakland, CA
Victor Geminiani, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI

Legal services programs can provide a variety of critical services to children at risk. These services include guardian ad litem representation, SSI advocacy, special education, adoption assistance, Teamchild, protection from abuse, foster parent advocacy and more. This session will describe successful models that have implemented these services, emphasizing the resource development aspect - the multiple funding opportunities, pro bono resources and partnerships which can be enlisted to create a children's project in your program.

Developing Successful Law Firm Pro Bono Projects

Saralyn Cohen, Shearman & Sterling, New York, NY
Susan Curry, Public Interest Law Initiative, Chicago, IL
Marlene Halpern, The Legal Aid Society, New York, NY
Sara Hewitt, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, Dallas, TX
William E. Lawler, III, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Washington, DC
Document Available: LEGAL AID SOCIETY'S JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICEPRO BONO APPELLATE ADOPTION PROJECT
Document Available: LEGAL AID SOCIETY'S FIRST YEAR ASSOCIATES PRO BONO PROGRAM

Law firms and legal services programs alike seek to increase client access to quality legal counsel. This session will describe how to formulate successful pro bono projects that are conducive to law firm culture, do not drain staff resources, and meet clients' unfilled legal needs. Illustrative models will be highlighted.

Documenting Legal Needs: Recent Developments and Alternative Methodologies

Helaine Barnett, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Colleen Cotter, (Moderator), Bloomington, IN
Bob Echols, Access to Justice Support Project, Bailey Island, ME
Melville D. Miller, Legal Services of New Jersey, Edison, NJ

This session will highlight the latest efforts to document the civil justice gap at the state and national levels, including a review of recent state legal needs studies and new national initiatives. Alternative approaches will be described and discussed.

Effective Use of Volunteers to Staff the Hotline

Joan Kleinberg, Northwest Justice Project, Seattle, WA
David Mandel, Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento, CA
Cheryl Nolan, Legal Services Corporation, Inc., Washington, DC
Bonnie Roswig, Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Middletown, CT
Document Available: Senior Legal Hotline flyers and forms

This workshop will cover how hotlines can recruit, train, supervise, reward, and retain volunteer hotline advocates. Experienced hotline managers will describe some of the difficulties of using volunteers on the hotline as well as some of the advantages and collateral benefits for the program.The workshop will also feature a report on LSC field programs' activities both in planning volunteer projects and with successful projects already in place.

Equal Justice: The Leadership Agenda

Helaine Barnett, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Ellen Hemley, Legal Aid University, Boston, MA
Wilhelm Joseph, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, Baltimore, MD
Michele Storms, Northwest Justice Project, Seattle, WA
Charles A. Wynder, Jr., Equal Justice Leadership Initiative, NLADA, Washington, DC

The development, training, and mentoring of a diverse cadre of emerging and current leaders in the civil legal aid community is an ever present concern of programs, boards, and funders. This interactive workshop will allow participants an opportunity to hear and discuss innovative leadership, diversity, and mentoring ideas, programs, and initiatives. An opportunity to participate in a critical dialogue impacting the future direction of the civil legal aid community.

Ethics of Technology-Based Delivery Models

Jett Hanna, Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange, Austin, TX
Will Hornsby, ABA, Chicago, IL
Ron Staudt, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL
Document Available: Outline

Technology has been a disruptive force in the delivery of legal services. At the same time it has created great conveniences and cost-efficiencies, it has also challenged the ethics of the legal profession. This workshop looks at the ways in which technological innovations need to fit into the ethical norms of the practice of law. Rules governing confidentiality, conflicts and limited scope representation will be discussed in this context.

Evaluating Legal Services Programs - California's Equal Access Fund

Caron Caines, San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Services, Pacomia, CA
Stephanie Choy, Public Interest Clearinghouse, San Francisco, CA
Bonnie Hough, Administrative Office of the Courts, San Francisco, CA
Greg Knoll, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Irene Morales, Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc., Riverside, CA
Mary Viviano, The State Bar of California, San Francisco, CA

An Evaluation has just been completed of the 99 legal services programs funded by California's Equal Access Fund using both analysis of common data elements and program owned evaluation. This workshop will explore simple evaluation strategies and how the programs are using evaluation to improve services and advocate for increased funding.

Expanding the Pool of Government Pro Bono Attorneys

Sandra Ann Ballard, Dauphin County Bar Association, Harrisburg, PA
Randy K. Jones, US Attorney's Office/ Former President of National Bar Association, San Diego, CA
Samuel W. Milkes, Pennsylvania Legal Services, Harrisburg, PA
Rhodia D. Thomas, MidPenn Legal Services, Harrisburg, PA
David Keller Trevaskis, LEAP-Kids, Glenside, PA

Learn about a unique partnership between legal services, the bar association and Pennsylvania's Office of the General Counsel that delivers pro bono services to clients through a virtual law clinic. Hear about the special issues affecting government attorneys' participation in pro bono delivery and ideas for developing service models that are conducive to government attorney participation.

Extreme Makeover, Pro Bono Edition: Post-Reconfiguration Pro Bono Program Development

Cheryl Zalenski, ABA Center for Pro Bono, Chicago, IL

How can programs develop effective pro bono delivery in service areas that are larger and more geographically and culturally diverse than before? Learn how to identify program and community strengths and resources as a foundation for partnerships and a successful pro bono program.

From Student to Young Associate: Collaborations that Encourage Pro Bono

Jane Aiken, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, MO
Kimberly Carpenter Emery, University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA
Karen Forman, Saul Ewing LLP, Philadelphia, PA
George Hettrick, Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond, VA
Sudha Shetty, Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, WA
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: University of Virginia School of Law Public Service Center brochure

Partnerships between law firms and law schools are springing up across the country. These partnerships provide firms greater on-campus visibility, deliver needed legal services and inspire graduates to continue public service. This workshop will identify a number of models for collaborative ventures including pro bono partnerships, summer and school year public interest internships/ externships, and post-graduate fellowships. Panelists will engage participants in a discussion of the challenges in working with law school constituencies and help them to develop strategies to tackle them.

Getting Your Money's Worth from Your Case Management System

Colleen M. Cotter, Consultant, Bloomington, IN
Julia Gordon, Consultant, Silver Spring, MD
Ed Marks, Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Toledo, OH
Mary S. Richardson, Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project, Portland, ME
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Getting Your Money's Worth from Your Case Management System

A good case management system can help you do a lot more than conflict checks and counting cases. Unfortunately, much of the information about these systems -- and much of the national discussion about them as well -- relates mainly to the needs of full-representation legal services programs. In this session, we will focus specifically on how hotlines and pro bono programs can use their case management system to improve the quality and efficiency of services both to clients and to volunteers. Please come prepared to have a participatory discussion.

Grassroots Technology Solutions: Techniques for the Smaller Organization

Steven M. Gray, LStech.org, Willis, MI
William L. Jones, ABA Center for Pro Bono, Chicago, IL

Limits in funding and staff encourage programs to work hard leveraging their resources to get the most efficiency. Presenters in this workshop will discuss several ways of using available free and online resources: they will present an overview of open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office/Wordperfect Office software; discuss PDF Creator, a free tool that allows creating PDF files; show ten basic (and easy to use) macro strategies in Microsoft Office; and discuss online resources for fundraising, marketing, surveys and training.

Hiring (and Keeping!) Great Attorneys without an HR Department

Deb Ellis, New York University School of Law, New York, NY
Tracey Jensen, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Tom Maligno, Touro Law Center, Huntington, NY
E. Carol Spruill, Duke Law School, Durham, NC
Jennifer Thomas, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, Washington, DC

Legal Services and other public interest legal organizations often face the challenge of staffing their offices with quality attorneys and law student interns without professional human resources staff. This presentation addresses the reality of conducting effective searches, and hiring processes, as well as strategies for attorney morale and retention, from a limited-resource perspective.

Hiring, Training and Evaluating Hotline Advocates

Kathleen Brockel, Law Access New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Kari Deming, Counsel & Advice Law Line (CALL), Southfield, MI
Joan Kleinberg, Northwest Justice Project, Seattle, WA
Allan A. Parker, Legal Services Society, Vancouver, BC
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Legal Services Society of British Columbia forms

The workshop will address hiring practices designed to accurately assess the knowledge, skills, aptitudes and passions of candidates. The panelists will discuss a multi-pronged approach to shaping hotline advocates and the critical need for supervision, feedback, and formal staff evaluations. Finally, the panelists will address the challenges of retaining a superior and finely-honed hotline staff including the art of managing to meet individual advocate needs and to motivate group behavior by maximizing ownership, moderating stress, maintaining excitement and averting burnout.

Hot Topics in Legal Aid

Helaine Barnett, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Julie Clark, NLADA, Washington, DC
William Whitehurst, ABA SCLAID, Austin, TX

This session will focus on developments at the Legal Services Corporation, the funding outlook for LSC for FY 2006, the ongoing revision of the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services and an array of other issues affecting civil legal aid. Participants will be able to question the panel regarding matters of concern to them as well.

How To Strengthen Client Service By Creating & Improving Pro Bono Advice Components for Court Access Centers

Tiela Chalmers, Volunteer Legal Services Program, San Francisco, CA
Martha Delaney, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Minneapolis, MN
Susan Ledray, Hennepin County District Court, Minneapolis, MN
Document Available: How to Strengthen Client Service:Creating Quality Pro Bono Legal Advice ClinicsWith Courthouse Self-Help Centers Outline
Document Available: Volunteer Lawyers Network Family Law Clinic Handbook

We will explore models for creating pro bono legal advice clinics at Self Help Centers, including incorporating pro bono attorneys, law students, and paralegals. We will discuss specific challenges to achieving high quality clinics-such as consistency, quality, diversity, support, and intermittent volunteerism-as well as suggestions for overcoming them.

Immigration Law Post 9-11: Policy, Practice, and Pro Bono

Wafa Abdin, Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance (Catholic Charities), Houston, TX
Donald Kerwin, Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., Washington, DC
Daniel M. Kowalski, Bender's Immigration Bulletin (LexisNexis), Austin, TX
Richard Pena, Law Office of Richard Pena, PC, Austin, TX
Document Available: Kerwin Outline
Document Available: Revisiting the Need for Appointed Counsel
Document Available: Driver Licenses and National Security: Myths and Reality
Document Available: American Justice Through Immigrants' Eyes
Document Available: Immigration Detainee Pro Bono Opportunities Guide

Panelists will explore immigrants' due process rights, particularly in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The publication American Justice Through Immigrants' Eyes will serve as background for the discussion, and presenters will also address practical challenges of representing detained immigrants, and examples of successful pro bono projects that serve the needs of this vulnerable population.

Increasing Pro Bono at Small to Mid-Size Law Firms

Cynthia Feathers, Department of Pro Bono Affairs, New York State Bar Association, Albany, NY
Sheila Gaddis, Volunteer Legal Services Project, Rochester, NY
Chris Reed-Brown, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, Dallas, TX
Susan Shulman, Public Interest Law Initiative, Chicago, IL
Document Available: Reed-Brown Outline

This workshop will present innovative ways to work with small- to mid-size law firms to increase pro bono involvement. Panelists will discuss various models, lessons learned in selling pro bono to law firms, and efforts to develop programs for and recruit small- to mid-size firms.

Innovations in Court-Based Pro Se: Lessons from Evaluation

Bonnie Rose Hough, Center for Families, Children and the Courts, San Francisco, CA
Richard Zorza, Zorza Associates, Washington, DC

The California Administrative Office of the Courts has recently conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of self-help centers providing assistance for non-English speakers, rural residents and other traditionally underserved groups using a combination of technology, workshops, one-on-one, informational materials and partnerships with pro bono and legal aid programs. This workshop will discuss lessons learned about the programs and evaluation itself.

Innovative Partnerships in Systemic Reform and Advocacy

Maureen Alger, Cooley Godward LLP, Palo Alto, CA
Jan Allen May, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Washington, DC
Nina Vinik, Litigation Assistance Partnership Project ABA Section of Litigation, Evanston, IL
Phong Wong, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Document Available: Outline

Systemic reform and advocacy can, in many ways, provide the ideal partnership opportunity for private attorneys and legal services providers. Panelists will discuss innovative approaches of identifying client problem areas in need of systemic reform, how to develop, package and market these ideas to law firms and strategies for working in partnership to shape favorable outcomes for clients.

Innovative Ways to Increase the Number of Clients Served Without Increasing Your Budget or Staff

Martin Ellin, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Atlanta, GA
Debra House, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Cleveland, TN
Marc Kalish, ABA Dispute Resolution Section, Phoenix, AZ
Sean Rashkis, CA Senior Legal Hotline, Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento, CA
Document Available: Legal Aid Of East Tennessee Pro Bono Parenting Plan Mediation Project
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Manual for Legal Services and Pro Bono Mediation Programs
Document Available: Mediation -- free of charge
Document Available: Senior Legal Hotline Mediation Program Information

Developing a pro bono mediation project can leverage your program's resources and increase the number of clients served. Additionally, mediation provides an alternative to pro se litigation for people who cannot obtain representation -- and in some scenarios, a win-win form of dispute resolution that can bring more positive outcomes than litigation. Learn how to set up, administer and manage a pro bono mediation project from a variety of programs with experience utilizing innovative models of pro bono mediation delivery.

International Pro Bono Efforts: Parental Abduction and More

Pamela Brown, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Weslaco, TX
Sudha Shetty, Seattle University Law School, Seattle, WA

This session will introduce the participants to two innovative projects that are addressing the unique issues that arise for family violence victims in the context of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Both projects are trying to get private attorneys involved in assisting family violence victims who are involved in Hague cases either as an accused "abductor" or as the "left behind parent."

Introducing Legal Aid University

Hugh Calkins, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Portland, ME
Ellen Hemley, Legal Aid University, Boston, MA
Gene Koo, Legal Aid University, Boston, MA

Online Training: Effective, Affordable, and Fun -- We all know that better-trained staff leads to better client outcomes. But how can programs on limited budgets offer their staff high-quality professional development opportunities? In this session, Legal Aid University staff will demonstrate how their online courses are helping advocates master critically important skills without breaking the bank.

Involving Senior Lawyers in Pro Bono Work

Stephanie Edelstein, ABA Commission on Law and Aging, Washington, DC
Michael A. Keeney, Marion-Polk Legal Services, Salem, OR
Jan Allen May, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Washington, DC
Document Available: Outline

Retired and semi-retired lawyers increasingly volunteer in programs serving the legal needs of low-income persons. In this workshop, participants will learn how to tap this population for pro bono work in communities large and small, urban and rural. Panelists will address the types of work most likely to appeal to senior lawyers, the unique issues in recruiting and managing these volunteers, and new large firm initiatives. In addition, panelists will discuss state bar emeritus rules that encourage pro bono and will offer participants guidance on developing such rules in their states.

Legal Hotlines: What's in a Name?

Cynthia Elliott, Legal Aid Line of Western Ohio, Advocates for Basic Equality, Inc., Toledo, OH
David Godfrey, Legal HelpLine for Older Kentuckians Access to Justice Foundation, Lexington, KY
Keith Morris, Elder Law of Michigan, Inc., Lansing, MI
Wayne Pressel, Nevada Legal Services, Las Vegas, NV
Document Available: Elliott Outline
Document Available: Legal Hotlines: What's in a Name? Power Point Presentation

This workshop features panelists from four distinct hotline types: a statewide stand-alone hotline, a senior hotline which acts as an umbrella organization running several grant-funded projects, a multi-program hotline that allows clients access to the next available screener without regard to location, and a statewide LSC-funded provider in the throes of dealing with fundamental hotline issues: technology, staffing, management, funding, and scope of services. The panelists will discuss how their model fits into the service delivery network and which model may be best for you.

LSC Rules and PAI: What Every Pro Bono Manager Should Know

Linda Perle, Center for Law & Social Policy, Washington, DC
Document Available: CLASP Regulatory Policy Memorandum 2003-5
Document Available: Outline

Get the latest updates on LSC's PAI regulation as well as other relevant regulations impacting LSC-funded pro bono programs. Bring your questions and comments to this lively discussion!

Maintaining the Quality of Hotline Advice Through Checklists, Scripts, and Law Outlines

Ayn H. Crawley, Maryland Legal Assistance Network, Baltimore, MD
Gabrielle Hammond, National Technology Assistance Project, Los Angeles, CA
Brynne McBride, Wisconsin Judicare, Inc., Wausau, WI
Erin McBride, Wisconsin Judicare, Inc., Wausau, WI
Document Available: HELPLINE CHECKLIST
Document Available: Helpline Staff Instructions for Completing Microsoft Word Templates
Document Available: Landlord Tenant Template Form
Document Available: McBride Outline

Checklist, scripts and outlines combine technology, substantive law, eligibility criteria, and services resource to make the hotline calls flow more efficiently. The workshop will include a presentation on templates that serve as a comprehensive client screening tool for hotline callers. Steps used in developing client-screening scripts, applying technology to specific agency needs, and converting existing program materials to meet your program's needs will be included. Online outlines to help advocates give accurate and complete real-time advice will also be showcased.

Maps Tell the Partnership and Quality Story

Neil Dudovitz, Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County, Pacoima, CA
Gabrielle Hammond, National Technology Assistance Project, Santa Ana, CA
Joyce Raby, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Mona Tawatao, Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento, CA
Richard Zorza, Zorza Associates, Washington, DC
Document Available: Legal Aid of East Tennessee letter
Document Available: Mapping GIS in Legal Services
Document Available: Strategies for Expanding Legal Services Mapping

GIS mapping can provide useful information in a visual format to helps your organization make informed decisions about numerous programmatic and advocacy opportunities your program may want to consider. This session will report on progress in mapping in the ATJ community, including the ESRI Award, the ESRI software grant program, completion of the projects in Georgia, Montana and Southern California, the curriculum, use of mapping in advocacy and racial justice work, and discussion of methods to speed the spread of the capacity.

Marketing Business Law Pro Bono Projects to Meet Urban & Rural Needs

Steve Grumm, LawWorks Project, Philadelphia, PA
D'Ann Johnson, Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources, Austin, TX
Lisa Wong, Volunteer Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
William J. Woodward, Jr. (Moderator), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

One of the challenges of business pro bono is how to connect to groups that are making a real difference in your community. Panelists will discuss various kinds of outreach techniques, intake criteria and proven marketing procedures that will enable you to handle these critical functions effectively either in urban or rural settings.

Matching Supply with Demand in Family Law Matters: Innovations and Resources

Charles Hodges, Koons, Fuller, Vanden Eykel & Robertson,, Dallas, TX
Kimberly Rommel-Enright, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL
Cheryl Zalenski, ABA Center for Pro Bono, Chicago, IL
Document Available: Outline

How can programs strive for a better match between clients in need of assistance and available pro bono attorneys? Hear about innovative approaches to creating more pro bono capacity, then brainstorm techniques to take home.

Maximize Program Revenue-Start with a Plan

Andrea Agloro Mayfield, Consultant, Sun City, AZ
Document Available: Outline

Secure funding keeps services flowing and the doors to justice open. During this session, we will explore strategies to build a more comprehensive fund development plan, discuss the unique challenges of fundraising outside a major urban area, look at fund development in new ways, and identify new sources of inspiration and partnership.

Medicare Rx 2006: Its Effect on Older Medicaid Recipients and How to Insure They Receive the Benefit

Paul Cotton, AARP, Washington, DC
Wayne Moore, AARP Policy & Strategy Group, Washington, DC

Medicaid will no longer pay for the medicines of Medicare beneficiaries. These and other Medicare beneficiaries with household incomes below 150% of poverty are eligible for a new drug benefit. Come learn about: this benefit, how to ensure your clients receive it, funding available for outreach and enrollment activities, and the appeal process for adversely affected beneficiaries.

Mentoring: Developing Diverse Legal Services Leaders for the 21st Century - LSC's Plans for a Pilot Project

Althea Hayward, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Carla Smith, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Evora Thomas, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC

The Legal Services Corporation recognizes the need to help develop a diverse corps of future leaders in the legal services community. LSC proposes, together with its national partners, NLADA & MIE, to implement a pilot project to determine the elements of a mentoring program that will support the cultivation of diverse legal services leaders. LSC staff members will discuss the proposed pilot project, including a status report on its progress to date. This session will be interactive and solicit audience reactions to the plan, and respond to the proposed pilot.

Microenterprise Pro Bono Projects and Business Law

James T. Caleshu, Legal Services for Entrepreneurs, San Francisco, CA
Peter H. Carson (Moderator), Bingham McCutchen, San Francisco, CA
Andrew Foster, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC
Laurie Hauber, Community and Economic Development Legal Clinic, Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, TN
Document Available: Presenter Information

Learn how business pro bono lawyers can help create entrepreneurs and provide an economic impact in our client communities. Learn what business law providers have been doing to develop strategic alliances with micro-enterprise networks. Learn what benefits the client community has received from micro-enterprise related activities.

MIE Roundtable for Legal Aid Executive Directors and Managers

Toby Rothschild, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Michele Storms, Northwest Justice Project, Seattle, WA

This forum provides legal aid program executive directors and managers with an opportunity to share management concerns and receive peer support and assistance in an informal and confidential setting. The roundtable will be facilitated by members of the Management Information Exchange Board of Directors.

National Technology Showcase

Hugh Calkins, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Portland, ME
Marc Lauritsen, Capstone Practice Systems, Harvard, MA
Becky Levine, National Technology Assistance Project, San Diego, CA
Glenn Rawdon, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC

This year's National Technology Showcase will highlight the HotDocs national document assembly project and provide updates on other national technology projects such as the XML data sharing project, the National Technology Assistance Project technology trainings, LS-Tech, Legal Meetings and others. Learn what's happening at the national level in the technology field that could help your program and your work.

Older & Wiser: Seminars for Seniors and Their Families on Crucial Legal Issues

Robert Oakley, Northwest Legal Services, Erie, PA
Joseph Olimpi, Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Aliquippa, PA
Laurie Mansell Reich (moderator), Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Ford City, PA
Heidi Rai Stewart, Allegheny County Bar Association Elder Law Committee, Pittsburgh, PA
Rep. Don Walko, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pittsburgh, PA
Document Available: Oakley Outline
Document Available: Olimpi Outline
Document Available: Reich Outline
Document Available: Stewart Outline
Document Available: Walko Outline

Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Western PA state legislators, the private bar and the PA Attorney General's office have collaborated to develop and present free seminars on powers of attorney/living wills, healthcare facilities, retirement benefits, last wills/living trusts and senior fraud. This program is unprecedented in the diversity of its collaborators, in addition to addressing the needs of not only seniors, but their families and caregivers as well.

Operating a Brief Services Unit: From Day-to-Day Operations to Creating a Pro Bono Partnership

Jan Allen May, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Washington, DC
Amy Mix, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Washington, DC
Patricia Stordeur, Northwest Justice Project, Seattle, WA
Document Available: Outline

This workshop will describe how a Brief Services Unit (BSU) resolves a high volume of cases using limited staff and volunteers. It will address innovative BSU systems for: handling large numbers of similar cases, identifying systemic issues and using volunteers to develop complex cases for pro bono referral.

Partnering Across the Sectors: Creating a Problem Solving Justice System

Cait Clarke, Consortium on Community Problem Solving, Washington, DC
Katie Danielson, Homeless Advocacy Project, San Francisco, CA
Camille Holmes, Center for Law and Social Policy, Washington DC, DC
Tanya Neiman, San Francisco Bar Association, San Francisco, CA
McGregory Smythe, The Bronx Defenders, Bronx, NY
Andrew Williams, Bronx Defenders, Bronx, NY

Partnering to Harvest Rural Delivery of Pro Bono Legal Services

Lori Alton, Oregon Law Center, Portland, OR
Paul Furrh, Lone Star Legal Aid, Nacogdoches, TX
Michael L. Monahan, State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project, Atlanta, GA
Steve Xanthopoulos, West Tennessee Legal Services, Jackson, TN
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Pro Bono Oregon Listserv Case Posting Format
Document Available: Pro Bono Oregon Listserv Marketing Plan

Impoverished persons living in rural areas are often overlooked in the delivery of legal services. This workshop is designed as a resource for legal services providers, bar associations and volunteer lawyer programs looking for ways to serve clients in rural areas and strengthen the support system for pro bono advocates who help rural clients. The workshop will discuss innovative delivery strategies and projects, such as using an email listserv to expand placement of rural pro bono cases, utilizing the internet to expand rural pro bono, and collaborating with multiple partners to enhance pro bono opportunities.

Partnering to Promote Affirmative Litigation

Justin Farrar, O'Melveny & Myers, Los Angeles, CA
Tai E. Glenn, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
William Harrell, ACLU of Texas, Austin, TX
Document Available: Confidentiality and Common Interest Agreement
Document Available: Consultant Agreement letter
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Sample Complaint for Damages and Injunctive Relief
Document Available: Sample Second Amended Complaint

This program will cover the benefits and models for partnerships with pro bono, advocacy organizations and the private bar to increase the impact of affirmative litigation. The session will look at multiple models for partnerships, including co-counseling and discreet litigation assistance. The panelists will address ways of creating plans for identifying potential attorney and community partners and creating model partnerships. Discussion will include review of a case study.

Policies Enabling Lawyers to Serve Pro Se Litigants

Michelle Cofield, Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, Cary, NC
Hon. Lora J. Livingston, ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, Austin, TX
Document Available: Outline

Recently both the ABA and some states have adopted policies, through their rules of ethics and rules of procedure, that clarify the role of lawyers in pro se litigation and remove obstacles to limit the scope of representation. This workshop looks at the specific issues that create barriers and the policies that have emerged to overcome them.

Pro Bono and Legal Services Partnering to Combat Predatory Foreclosure Practices

Gregory M. Duhl, Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, IL
David Galle, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, Minneapolis, MN
Amber Hawkins, Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Nancy Sagstetter, Faegre & Benson LLP, Minneapolis, MN
Bradley C. Thorsen, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Minneapolis, MN
Document Available: Pro Bono and Legal Services Partnering to Combat Predatory Foreclosure Practices Outline
Document Available: Don't Borrow Trouble Minnesota Screening Procedure

Predatory lending and illegal equity skimming practices are stealing homes from thousands of low income Americans. The workshop will advise how to respond through the education campaigns of the Business Law and Real Property Probate and Trust Law Sections' pro bono committees and establishing pro bono - legal services litigation task force partnerships.

Pro Bono Roundup: Data Collection Efforts Around the Country

Bob Glaves, The Chicago Bar Foundation, Chicago, IL
Krista Scully, Alaska Bar Association, Anchorage, AK

Understanding the quantitative state of pro bono affairs can help create more effective policy and program delivery. Come hear about the recently completed legal needs study in Illinois -- what was learned about the role of pro bono in the legal services delivery system and how such a study can help to further the development of pro bono policy. In addition, learn about different approaches to collecting data on attorney pro bono participation from Florida and Alaska. Panelists will give an overview of their data collection efforts and how these fit into the larger framework of encouraging pro bono activity.

Program Leadership: The Case for Racial and Gender Diversity

Jonathan Asher, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC
Wilhelm Joseph, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, Baltimore, MD
Lillian Moy, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany, NY
Jose Padilla, California Rural Legal Assistance, San Francisco, CA
Jo-Ann Wallace, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Washington, DC

An Interactive roundtable discussion about the role and significance of racial and gender diversity in program leadership in legal aid programs. The legal aid community continues to grapple with the challenge of increasing the number of leaders of color. This is a forward-looking session designed to chart a path toward building and growing the leadership pipeline to include more women and leaders of color. An important dialogue to position civil legal aid programs to better serve increasingly diverse communities.

Projects on a Platter: Encouraging Young Lawyers to do Pro Bono

Stephanie S. Bascon, Reagan Burrus Dierksen Lamon & Bluntzer, PLLC, New Braunfels, TX
Ilene Bloom, Ilene Lin Bloom, P.C., Denver, CO
S. Kendall Butterworth (Moderator), BellSouth Corporation, Atlanta, GA
D. Chris Harkins, Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein & Johnson P.C., Amarillo, TX
Anthony C. Hayes, Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Columbia, SC
Deidra Sanderson, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
Document Available: Bascon Outline
Document Available: Bloom Outline
Document Available: Memo from Stephanie Bascom to attorneys participating in mock trial
Document Available: Memo from Stephanie Bascom to judges participating in mock trial
Document Available: Sanderson Outline

Come hear about an array of successful, replicable projects that can offer young lawyers concrete pro bono and public service opportunities in their communities.

Protecting Our Future: Law Firm Partnerships that Benefit Children

Carolyn Frazier, Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, IL
Lori Hood, Baker & McKenzie, Houston, TX
Catherine Krebs, ABA Section of Litigation Children's Rights Litigation Committee, Washington, DC
Joan Ritchey, Piper Rudnick LLP, Chicago, IL
Document Available: Krebs Outline
Document Available: Starting a Children's Law Project

Learn about ways to engage law firm lawyers to become involved in pro bono work for children; projects geared towards increasing pro bono representation of children; and issues of training, ethics, community relations and skills-matching. Hear about the ongoing collaboration between DLA, Piper Rudnick, Gray Cary US LLP's Chicago office and Northwestern University's Bluhm Legal Clinic in the firm's Signature Pro Bono Project in Juvenile Justice and a recently completed legal needs assessment for children conducted in Houston, Texas by the Children's Rights Litigation Committee of the ABA.

Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services for Victims of Domestic Violence: Best Practices and Models

Sarah Buel, University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX
Margaret Drew, ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Boston, MA
Robin R. Runge (Moderator), ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Washington, DC

There is a dire need for pro bono legal assistance for victims of domestic violence regarding civil protection orders, family law, tax law, employment law, and housing law, among others. However, cases involving domestic violence are perceived to be among the most emotionally draining and challenging, so it has taken additional creativity to overcome these challenges and create effective pro bono programs between legal services and the private bar. The panelists will describe both their own successful experiences and other successful models of pro bono legal service programs for victims of domestic violence in Texas and elsewhere.

Public Interest and Private Law Firm Pro Bono Collaborations: From Soup to Nuts

Marnie Berk (Moderator), New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, New York, NY
Ramonita Cordero, inMotion, Inc., New York, NY
Teresa Schiller, Clifford Chance, New York, NY
Ronald Tabak, Skadden Arps, New York, NY
Document Available: Outline

This program addresses ways that legal service providers and law firms can collaborate successfully. The panelists include New York-based public interest and legal service providers and law firm attorneys. They will discuss several aspects of partnerships, including: the creation of signature projects for law firms; providing effective training and supervision; developing a Strong Pro Bono Infrastructure; and troubleshooting problem areas.Partnership Projects/Signature Projects (Clifford Chance collaborates with NYLPI and Paralegals at Skadden and Junior litigation associates at Simpson Thatcher and Bartlett in partnership with inMotion); Training and Supervision; Pro Bono Infrastructure

Raising Money From Lawyers and Lawyers Raising Money

J. Philip Burt, Indiana Pro Bono Commission, Fort Wayne, IN
Susan P. Burton, Clark, Thomas & Winters, Austin, TX
Meredith McBurney, ABA PERLS Project, Denver, CO

The commitment of the private bar to give and to raise money is very important to the development of stable, healthy legal services programs. In this session, volunteer lawyer leaders with strong histories of giving and raising money will discuss some of the most important issues related to getting lawyers committed to the critical work of fundraising for legal services. Come to this session if you need to increase and strengthen your volunteer fundraising corps and build a stronger commitment among the private bar in your community.

Recent Developments in Civil Gideon Litigation

Jonathan Cedarbaum, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Washington, DC
Debra Gardner, Public Justice Center, Baltimore, MD
Clare Pastore, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Deborah Perluss, Northwest Justice Project, Seattle, WA
Jayne Tyrrell, Massachusetts IOLTA Program, Boston, MA

This session will engage panelists and participants in an examination of strategies for establishing a right to indigent representation in civil cases, including present efforts in various states through litigation and legislative initiatives. The session will further discuss national coordination around civil Gideon, including coordination with and involvement of the private bar nationally and locally, and identifying and utilizing resources in support of these efforts.

Representing Children in Civil Domestic Violence Cases

Linda Rio Reichmann, ABA Child Custody Pro Bono Project, Chicago, IL
Michele Roche, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, Denver, CO
Rachel Strong, Howrey Simon Arnold & White, Washington D.C., DC
Document Available: CPO Chart
Document Available: DV Chart
Document Available: General DV Chart
Document Available: Handout 1
Document Available: Handout 2

This workshop is for staff and volunteers interested in representing children in civil order of protection cases or family law cases involving domestic violence. The panel will discuss the rationale for representing children in these cases; the national landscape; and the experience of two pro bono programs. A staff attorney and pro bono attorney will then conduct a mini-training touching on the key issues and skills in this representation. Attendees will have a chance to raise concerns and successes. Training manuals, standards, and state law charts will be distributed.

Responsibilities to do Justice

Ayn H. Crawley, Maryland Legal Assistance Network, Baltimore, MD
Bonnie Hough, Senior Attorney, San Francisco, CA
Richard Zorza, Zorza Associates, Washington, DC
Document Available: Hypotheticals

Beyond ethics responsibilities and beyond the requirement to meet the obligations set out in the codes, all those involved in the delivery of legal services have responsibilities to see to it that justice is done. This workshop examines the obligations of judges to assure due process when hearing pro se matters, the obligations of court personnel when providing pro se information, the obligation of legal service providers to implement triage when screening for brief services and similar responsibilities.

Roundtable on Expanding Sources of Federal Funding

Kate Lang, National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Washington, DC
Document Available: Sources of Federal Funding

This workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas and ask questions related to federal funding sources other than the Legal Services Corporation. Topics for discussion will include how to expand federal funding opportunities and how to collaborate with new partners in order to get grants or sub-grants. The session will provide those attending with an opportunity to share their experiences and concerns regarding grant programs from a variety of agencies, including the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Health and Human Services.

So You Don't Do Media....Why You Must and How You Can!

Elizabeth Arledge, Legal Aid Justice Center, Charlottesville, VA
Pat Bath, The Legal Aid Society, New York, NY
Deborah Dubois, NLADA, Washington, DC
Joe Surkiewicz, Legal Aid Bureau, Baltimore, MD

To reach its full potential your program must be media savvy. From op-eds and letters to the editor, to full-blown exposes, effective media outreach educates key audiences and increases support. The result: better client service. Learn more at this energetic session on preparation, audience identification, message development and delivery.

Starting up a Business Law Pro Bono Program

James L. Baillie, Fredrikson & Byron, PA, Minneapolis, MN
Linda C. Hayman, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, LLP, New York, NY
Kathleen Hopkins (Moderator), Real Property Group, Seattle, WA
Mette Mai, Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations, Seattle, WA
Carolyn Rosenthal, Goodwin Procter, Boston, MA

The different ways transactional pro bono programs have started are as varied as the program's clients. All programs have different catalysts. These panelists will describe how their programs were started and the obstacles they overcame. Learn how you too can start a business pro bono program in your locale or state.

Strategies to Raise IOLTA Revenue and Grants

Kelly Carmody, Carmody & Associates, Phoenix, AZ
Jane E. Curran, Florida Bar Foundation, Orlando, FL
Charles R. Dunlap, Indiana Bar Foundation, Indianapolis, IN
Darrell E. Jordan, Chair, ABA Commission on IOLTA, Dallas, TX
Karen Neeley, Independent Bankers Association of Texas, Austin, TX
Document Available: Charts on Indiana IOLTA Revenue
Document Available: Glossary Of IOLTA-Related Banking Terms
Document Available: Negative Netting Rules and Becoming an IOLTA Friendly Bank Fee Campaign
Document Available: Order Amending Rule 1.15 of Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct
Document Available: Outline
Document Available: Proposed Universal IOLTA Implementation Timetable for Indiana
Document Available: Status of IOLTA Programs

Access to Justice leaders and staff can take a leadership role, in collaboration with their IOLTA program, to increase their state's IOLTA revenue and grants. This workshop will identify and explore successful IOLTA revenue enhancement strategies, including becoming a mandatory program, rule and policy changes, bank negotiations, and public relations campaigns.

Technology and Limited English Proficient Clients

Gabrielle Hammond, National Technology Assistance Project, Santa Ana, CA
Kathleen Caldwell, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Portland, ME
Juliet Choi, National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, Washington, DC

As our client communities become more diverse, our programs are called upon to serve many different immigrant populations with limited English proficiency. Many new technologies can assist in this effort. Learn how programs are using GIS mapping, web and telephone technology and other technology tools to improve their work with LEP clients.

Technology Tips and Tools: 50 Ways to Work Better, Faster and Cheaper

Joyce Alexander, Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston, TX
Hugh Calkins, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Portland, ME
Glenn Rawdon, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC

Technology is becoming an ever greater part of our work lives. We can rule it, or be ruled by it. Come get personal tips and tools you can put to good use in your day to day work. Come share your own technology tips with your colleagues.

The Ins & Outs of Legal Services/Pro Bono Partnerships: Practical Suggestions and Candid Conversation

Sharon Browning, Philadelphia VIP, Philadelphia, PA
Catherine Carr, Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, PA

This workshop will examine the partnership between legal services and pro bono programs in providing legal services to clients. What seems to work, what works really well, and what leads to frustration? Participants will discuss how to build effective collaborations including effectively allocating cases between staff and pro bono lawyers for maximum client benefit.

The National Campaign to Expand Privately Funded Legal Aid for America's Families -- Update on Dobbins v. LSC and the Public Education Campaign

Rebekah Diller, Brennan Center Poverty Program, New York, NY
David Udell, Brennan Center Poverty Program, New York, NY

What happens after Dobbins v. LSC, the federal district court decision holding that LSC has required legal services grantee programs to maintain too great a degree of separation between LSC-funded, federally approved activities, and their privately funded, federally disfavored activities? Why do civil legal aid programs operate under a "private money restriction" when other government grant recipients, including faith based organizations, do not? Which Congress people are speaking out on the issue? How can the organized bar make a difference?

The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow: Recruiting Pro Bono Lawyers of Color

Randy K. Jones, US Attorney's Office/ Former President of National Bar Association, San Diego, CA
Michele Wong Krause, The Wong Krause Law Firm, Dallas, TX
Allecia Y. Lindsey, NAACP, Houston, TX
Document Available: Outline

What approaches do diversity bar associations employ to perform outreach and recruit pro bono attorneys? How do these bar associations undertake pro bono advocacy? How best can pro bono program staff collaborate with these associations to increase pro bono activity? Attend this session to hear ideas from current and former representatives of the National Bar Association, the Dallas Asian-American Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association of Dallas, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and receive project ideas and strategies for increasing pro bono participation.

Trends and Innovations in Recruitment and Recognition of Volunteers

Kathleen McCleskey, KM Consulting and Training Connection, Liberty Hill, TX

What are the emerging trends in volunteer recruiting and recognition? How can pro bono programs respond to these trends to increase volunteer participation? This interactive session will explore how programs can adapt to diverse volunteer expectations and needs.

Using Statewide Partnerships to Present a Comprehensive Menu of Pro Bono Opportunities

James L. Baillie, Fredrikson & Byron, PA, Minneapolis, MN
Robert Gillett, Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
David A. Kutik, Jones Day, Cleveland, OH
L. Jonathan Ross (Moderator), Wiggin & Nourie PA, Manchester, NH
Document Available: A Call to Honor: A Report on the Year of Pro Bono
Document Available: Michigan Pro Bono Menu
Document Available: Kutik Outline
Document Available: Our Commitment to Our Community
Document Available: Press clips

Learn how bar associations partner with legal services organizations, private law firms, the judiciary, and state and local access to justice efforts to encourage and expand pro bono. Presenters include representatives from Minnesota, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio and will focus on creating multi-pronged, organized and integrated pro bono systems through a variety of models and success stories.

Using the Pro Bono Standards to Measure Your Program's Success (Or to Start a New Program)

Pam Feinstein, Eastside Legal Assistance Program, Bellevue, WA
Steven B. Scudder, ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Chicago, IL

The ABA standards for pro bono programs are a terrific checklist for the necessary components of a pro bono program. Learn how they apply to and can improve your new or established pro bono program.

Volunteerism 101: What Every Program Director Needs to Know

Wendy Biro-Pollard, Austin State Hospital, Austin, TX

This session will provide perspectives on why to involve more volunteers and how to involve volunteers more effectively. Presenters will address the secondary benefits - those beyond providing services to clients - that can come about from involving private attorneys and other volunteers in the delivery of legal services.

What Law Websites Can Learn from Health Websites and Their Use of Online Communities

Ayn H. Crawley, Maryland Legal Assistance Network, Baltimore, MD
Gabrielle Hammond, LSTech, Lansing, MI
Wayne Moore, AARP Policy & Strategy Group, Washington, DC

As more of our clients use the internet, the creation of online communities of these clients by legal services programs could greatly increase the client's ability to understand and use legal information and advice, as well as provide each other with the emotional support they need to address their legal problems. This is already happening in the health field. Learn about these developments in the health field and their implications in the legal field.

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: Not-for-Profit Seminar

Andrew Grumet, Herrick, Feinstein LLP, Newark, NJ

Document Available: Handout

Nonprofits operate in accordance with a complex set of federal and state laws which are often very different from the laws applicable to for-profit enterprises. This workshop is designed to educate anyone who represents nonprofit organizations to better understand the hierarchy of laws applicable to nonprofits, the corporate and fiduciary duties of its participants, the different filing requirements, what changes are taking place at the federal and state level and how to react to these changes and many other matters that arise in everyday practice.

Working Together: Legal Hotlines, Pro Bono and the Bar

Randy Chapman, Texas Legal Services Center, Austin, TX
Amanda Hartmann, Lawyer Referral for the Elderly Program, State Bar of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Bonnie Roswig, Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Middletown, CT
Tim Sulak, Morris, Craven & Sulak, Austin, TX
Document Available: Chapman Outline
Document Available: Hartmann Outline
Document Available: Roswig Outline

The panelists will discuss how a hotline program can cultivate and maintain a vibrant relationship with the state bar association to yield an effective pro bono network. Experienced hotlines will describe their variable-fee referral panels who, in turn, receive financial support for hotline operations. A private attorney member of a hotline referral panel will give his view on this partnership. Panelists will also provide information on using bar association resources for pro bono case placement, recruitment, education and development of programs.

Legal Aid University Focus Group

Legal Aid University is the first national online university providing professional development and continuing education for the legal aid community. We invite EJC conference participants to join us for a 1.5 hour focus group to share your ideas and suggestions for LAU expansion and future course development. LAU works for you, so we encourage you to bring your ideas, questions, and experience to this informal exchange, and help us better understand your needs and the needs of your colleagues.

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Workshop Archive 2005

EJC 2005 Materials