Workshop Materials 2010

Sonia Nazario

Webcast of Sonia Nazario

Brief Interview with Sonia Nazario (2 minutes)

Carolyn Lamm

Webcasts of Carolyn Lamm

Friday Awards Luncheon Speech by Carolyn Lamm (38 minutes)

Brief Interview with Carolyn Lamm (0:40 minutes)

1070's Impact on Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

ABA Commission on Domestic Violence Staff, American Bar Association, Chicago, IL.

ABA Commission on DV staff will facilitate and lead a discussion on Arizona's immigration law and its chilling effect on victims of or witnesses to crime especially domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Local domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking advocates have been invited.

50 Plus Ways to Recruit Volunteers in Smaller Urban/Rural Areas

D'Arcy Downs-Vollbracht, Community Legal Services, Kingman, AZ.
Xochilt Kelly, Community Legal Services, Kingman, AZ.
Helenka Marculewicz, Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, Dayton, OH.
Michael L. Monahan, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA.
Douglas J. Suits, Community Legal Services, Prescott, AZ.
Jennifer J. van Dulmen, Community Legal Aid Services, Inc., Akron, OH.

This session will provide information on and samples of recruitment methods that work in rural areas. Panelists will address ways to effectively utilize the judiciary, social media, websites, and person-to-person appeals. Participants will discuss and share tips in small groups.

A Toolkit for Legislative Change: How to Propose and Enact Bills to Promote Social Justice

Craig Baab, Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Montgomery, AL.
Christy Kane, Louisiana Appleseed, New Orleans, LA.
Malcolm A. Meyer, Adams & Reese, New Orleans, LA.
Mark Moreau, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, New Orleans, LA.

Pro bono advocates emphasize the need to help individuals but sometimes a single legislative effort can help thousands of people at once. This session will be present a toolkit for legislative change, using as an example the steps for passage of Louisiana's new small successions law.

Access to Justice Commissions and Pro Bono

Bob Echols, ABA Resource Center for Access to Justice Initiatives, Bailey Island, ME.
Hon. Gregory J. Hobbs Jr., Colorado Access to Justice Commission, Denver, CO.
Hon. Lora J Livingston, Judge 261st Judicial District Court, Austin, TX.
Hon. Sarah M. Singleton, New Mexico Access to Justice Commission, Santa Fe, NM.
Nita Taylor, State Bar of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

Document available: Echols_Handout1

Document available: Hobbs_Materials

Document available: Singleton_Outline

Document available: Singleton_Materials

Document available: Singleton_Materials2

Document available: Singleton_Materials3

Document available: Singleton_Materials4

Document available: Singleton_Materials5

In a growing number of states (now over half) an Access to Justice commission or similar entity brings together the Supreme Court, organized bar, legal aid programs, law schools, and other stakeholders to expand access to civil justice. Pro bono, along with funding for civil legal aid and support for self-represented litigants, is a major focus of these commissions. In this interactive session, members of three ATJ commissions will discuss and respond to questions about their pro bono-related initiatives, including local court-based pro bono committees, Supreme Court recruitment and recognition campaigns, courtroom practices, and rule changes

All About Consumer Debt Collection

Robert Hobbs, National Consumer Law Center, Boston, MA.
Peter Holland, University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, MD.
Richard Rubin, Santa Fe, NM.

Document available: Hobbs_Materials

Low-income family finances have been devastated by the current recession, and many families and individuals who cannot afford to do so are being aggressively pursued to repay consumer debts, often by subsequent buyers of the debt. The consequences of judgments to consumers can be severe, and may result in lost employment or denial of housing. This program will provide an overview of how the debt collection process works, pointing out along the way the serious legal weakness present in these efforts, which ultimately offer consumers legitimate defenses to these collection efforts.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: The "Access to Justice" Road Less Traveled

Debra L. House, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
Linda Warren Seely, Memphis Area Legal Services Inc., Jackson, TN.

Document available: House_Outline

New ADR methodologies are being implemented almost daily in jurisdictions across the US. Mediation and other conflict resolution processes are no longer viewed as "less than" options for low income clients. In an era when 95% of all conflicts are settled, staff and pro bono attorneys and their clients should have better and more access to cutting edge conflict resolution methodologies. Participants will receive an overview of the various components of the comprehensive law movement, how and where they are applied and where to find information about these exciting options.

Assessing the Capacity of the Legal Services Delivery System in Your State

Karen C. Buck, SeniorLAW Center, Philadelphia, PA.
David Godfrey, ABA Commission on Law and Aging, Washington, DC.
Dorene A. Kuffer, New Mexico Legal Aid, Albuquerque, NM.

Document available: Godfrey_Outline

Document available: Buck_Materials

Document available: Buck_Materials2

In order to maximize capacity of the legal services providers in the state, assess ability to meet the needs of the community, and identify overlaps and gaps, programs must work together to analyze the services available in their state and adapt the services to community needs. Three programs working in states with differing legal provider environments and at different stages of the legal capacity assessment process discuss their experiences in planning the assessment, identifying participants, collecting data, and interpreting and sharing the results.

Assessing Your Nonprofit's Financial Health

Robert Leslie, Mutual of Omaha Bank, Scottsdale, AZ.

This workshop is a lesson in nonprofit economics. Participants will learn to evaluate how well their nonprofit uses its resources to achieve its mission, take the organization's financial pulse, and adapt to the prevailing economic climate.

Assisting ID Theft Victims: From New Resources to Proven Models

Russel Butler, Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
Joanna Crane, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, FTC, Washington, DC.

Document available: Crane_Outline
Document available: Crane_Materials

Identity theft can have a devastating effect on victims' denial of public assistance or employment, loss of utility services, or arrest. The effects can be especially difficult for lower income, elderly, and ESL victims. Providing clients with resources to resolve the issues themselves, and knowing when to step in, can help your clients avoid or recover from even the most serious problems associated with identity theft. This workshop will connect you with resources to help you assist your clients.

Back to School: Tapping into Law School, Graduate & Professional Programs to Support Legal Services

Jaime Hiraishi, Taproot Foundation, San Francisco, CA.

Document available: Hiraishi_Outline

Document available: Presentation

Document available: Lash_Handout

Document available: Lash_Handout2

Document available: Lash_Handout3

Academia often seems impenetrable to advocate outsiders. But inside are potential riches, if strategically leveraged, the right ask made, and professional school nonprofit-as-client programs accessed. Learn to tap the expertise of law schools in novel ways and access graduate students in nonprofit management, business, public policy and much more.

Beyond an LEP Policy: Providing Effective Language Assistance Services

Ana Maria Garcia, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, Glendale, CA.
Manya Lefian, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, Glendale, CA.

Document available: Garcia_Outline

This panel proposes an interactive discussion on providing self-help services to limited English proficient litigants. The language issue is a significant barrier to access to justice for many individuals across the country. Not only is language an issue but there are other cultural barriers at work as well that would keep this population from coming to court or even seeking assistance.

Built to Last: Integrating Intake with a Regional Delivery System

Cheryl Nolan, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.
Gordon Shaw, Massachusetts Justice Project, Holyoke, MA.
Cathy Wallace, Legal Aid of West Virginia, Charleston, WV.

Document available: Nolan_Outline

High quality intake/hotline programs establish systems that support and complement the work of full service partners. Presenters will share the component parts to making such partnerships work including: how to foster an environment of cooperation, how to deploy technology to support intake, how to create a fluid (as opposed to static) intake manual as a foundation for all partners and how LSC's technical assistance and consultative services can support field programs.

Celebrating the Celebration

Sharon Browning, Just Listening, Philadelphia, PA.
Jennifer Foster, Pisgah Legal Services, Asheville, NC.
Linda Lund, Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, Montgomery, AL.
Mark Schickman, Freeland, Cooper & Foreman, San Francisco, CA.

This session will review the 2009 National Celebration of Pro Bono including a review of video, photos, news accounts and more that reflect the high level of media exposure for events across the country. Attendees will be invited to share their experiences and ideas for future National Celebrations and comment on the 2010 Celebration ueser’s guide.

Cell Phones Intersecting with Hotlines, Intake Systems and Legal Services Delivery

David Bonebrake, LSNTAP, Santa Monica, CA.
Cheryl Nolan, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.

Document available: Nolan_Outline

National and local studies show increased usage of cell phones. This increase in usage is also being seen among low-income clients, some of whom use cell phones as their exclusive means of communication. This is a unique working session facilitated by experienced intake directors, managing attorneys and technology staff that will help attendees explore how cell phones are changing service delivery and some solutions and approaches.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform: An Update and Dialogue

Chris Nugent, Equal Justice Works, Washington, DC.

Come to this session to hear about the current status of comprehensive immigration reform in the beltway and beyond. Share what you know and engage in dialogue with people from across the country about the challenges of dealing with immigration reform.

Confidentiality and Ethics in Medical-Legal Partnerships

Melissa Nott Davis, McDermott Will & Emery, Boston, MA.
Samantha J. Morton, Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston, Boston, MA.
Jerome Tichner, McDermott Will & Emery, Boston, MA.

Document available: Davis_Outline

Medical-legal partnerships can be found at almost 200 sites across the country including public hospitals, federally qualified health center, and children's hospitals. MLPs offer a unique interdisciplinary experience for lawyers, but many questions regarding ethics and confidentiality can arise during start-up and in the context of particular cases. This session will discuss the ethical issues that arise when practicing law in a health care setting from reaching an agreement with general counsel to communicating with doctors.

Conquering Pro Bono Challenges During The Long Term Economic Crisis

Lee Meredith Branson, Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA.
Carla Christofferson, O'Melveny & Myers, Los Angeles, CA.
Greg McConnell, Winston & Strawn, Chicago, IL.
Hernán D. Vera, Public Counsel, Los Angeles, CA.

The extended economic crisis is not only creating funding and volunteer-recruitment challenges for public interest organizations, but also forcing law firms to rethink their business model. If firms move to alternate billing structures, will pro bono work be affected, and how? Panelists will discuss these and other questions with the goal of creating even better law firm funding and volunteer structures in the future.

Current Issues in Ethics and Technology

Will Hornsby, ABA, Chicago, IL.
Kathryn A. Thompson, ABA, Chicago, IL.

Social media, social networks, and Twitter provide unparalleled opportunities to communicate quickly, broadly and cost-effectively. Yet the legal profession has been slow to promulgate rules governing these communications. The ABA has launched Ethics 20/20, an initiative to address the complications emerging as technology is integrated into the practice of law. This workshop looks at the intersection of ethics and technology and opportunities to voice perspectives as the ABA develops policies that improve access to services while protecting clients from harm when using technology.

Diagnostic Protocols from the Self-Represented Litigant Network: Helping Courts Assess and Solve Challenging Access to Justice Issues

Susan Ledray, 4th Judicial District Court, Minneapolis, MN.
Judy Meadows, State of Montana, Helena, MT.
Richard Zorza, Self Represented Litigation Network, Washington, DC.

Document available: Ledray_Outline

This session introduces twelve diagnostic protocols designed to help courts and programs that work with courts assess state of delivery of access services and consider alternatives. Protocols range from clerk's office to court order compliance and include questions for exploration by stakeholders, possible problems that may be identified, solutions, and resources. Pilot courts will report on the usage of the protocols.

Effectively Developing and Managing Your Board

Ellen Hemley, Center for Legal Aid Education, Boston, MA.
Helenka Marculewicz, Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, Dayton, OH.
Cheryl Zalenski, ABA Center for Pro Bono, Chicago, IL.

Document available: Marculewicz_Materials

Board members are a critical element in successful program operations. This workshop will discuss the principles of effective board recruitment and management. Participants will learn techniques for identifying and recruiting board members from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, and for involving board members in essential duties including volunteer recruitment and fundraising.

Embracing Diversity on Your Staff

The objective of this panel is to uncover some of the barriers to attracting attorneys from non-traditional backgrounds to careers in legal services. The panel will examine common issues for attorneys who chose the public sector despite personal and community pressures to work in the private sector. Presenters will discuss strategies for finding and keeping talented individuals who not only mirror the populations that we serve, but also strengthen the fabric of our organizations.

Emeritus Pro Bono Practice Programs: Lessons Learned

David Ackerly, Inner City Law Center, Los Angeles, CA.
David Godfrey, ABA Commission on Law and Aging, Washington, D.C., DC.
Kelly Terry, University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, Little Rock, AR.

Document available: Godfrey_Outline

Retired and inactive attorneys provide a vast pool of potential pro bono volunteers. This workshop will examine lessons learned in rule and program development in the jurisdictions that currently have emeritus rules, including ways to effectively utilize experienced attorneys whose experience may have little relevance to public interest law. The program will also look at strategies for recruiting Emeritus Attorneys and explore the role of both rule development and program development in emeritus program success.

Energizing Change: Transforming Compassion Fatigue, Finding Balance, and Sustaining Effectiveness

Sharon Browning, JUST Listening Project, Philadelphia, PA.
Genie Miller Gillespie, Center for Law and Social Work, Chicago, IL.
Dawn Post, Children's Law Center, Brooklyn, NY.

Document available: Browning_Outline

Document available: Browning_Handout1

Document available: Browning_Handout2

Document available: Browning_Handout3

Document available: Browning_Handout4

Document available: Browning_Handout5

Our lives often read like a menu of stressors: client needs, overworked and burned out staff, funding cutbacks, family responsibilities, illness, and loss. How can we stay healthy, effective, peaceful, and fully present to our own lives in the midst of such pressures? Legal services attorneys and staff are particularly vulnerable to compassion fatigue and secondary trauma but rarely know how to identify and manage their effects. This workshop will provide information, tools and skills to help attorneys and staff cope and find balance in order to stay energized for their essential work.

Ensuring Justice for Prisoners and Ex-Offenders

April Frazier, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, Washington, DC.

Our Place DC helps women both in and out of prison with child custody, divorce and other access to civil courts in the District of Columbia. We want to share how we help people with criminal records have the access, ability and empowerment to exercise their civil rights.

Evaluation and Innovations: How One Program Used Project Evaluation to Improve and Expand Resources

Lynn Burns, Pro Bono Law Ontario, Toronto, ON.
Ken Smith, The Resource for Great Programs, Inc., Traverse City, MI.

Document available: Smith_Outline

Increasingly, funders require grant recipients to document the outcomes they're achieving for clients. Here a case study of an innovative Ontario project serving self-represented litigants will show why and how specific evaluation methods can be chosen that not only satisfy the funder but produce useful insights about a project's success.

Eviction Defense: Court and Community Collaborations

Dina E. Fein, Housing Court, Department of Trial Courts, Springfield, MA.
Gordon Shaw, Massachusetts Justice Project, Holyoke, MA.

Document available: Fein_Handout1

Document available: Fein_Handout2

Document available: Fein_Handout3

Preserving shelter is one of the highest priorities for legal services and pro bono programs across the country. This workshop will feature presentations of a variety of multi-faceted approaches to help tenants retain their residences or work out reasonable “move out” opportunities. Partnerships between courts, legal services providers, law school clinics and bar associations will be highlighted.

Examining 1070: An Insider's View

Jaime Farrant, Border Action Network, Phoenix, AZ.

This session will explore the history behind SB 1070 and other anti-immigrant efforts in AZ legislature through the last few years. Opposition efforts to the bill will be discussed. Mr. Farrant will also discuss SB 1070's vision of "attrition through enforcement", federal policies related to immigration enforcement (287g, Safe Communities), and border enforcement and related issues. Finally, attendees will discuss how SB 1070 is being considered by other states and what they can do to make a difference.

Exploring Alternative Models of Collaboration with the Private Bar

Jeanne Charn, Bellow Sachs Access to Civil Legal Services Project, Cambridge, MA.
Bob Cohen, Legal Aid Society of Orange County, Santa Ana, CA.
Jose Padilla, California Rural Legal, San Francisco, CA.
Phillip Robinson, Civil Justice, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
Fred Rooney, City University of New York, New York, NY.

Are legal aid entities maximizing their relationship with the private bar? Are private attorney involvement monies supporting a one-size-fits-all strategy, or are we exploring alternatives at the intersection of legal aid, pro bono and lawyers in the marketplace? This program is designed to engage providers in a discussion about the role the private bar plays, and can play, in increasing access to legal services for low and moderate-income gap clients by encouraging the development of low-bono and private attorney models.

Federal Funding Roundtable: A Discussion of the Most Critical Issues Related to Non-LSC Federal Funding

Hillary Evans, NLADA, Washington, DC.
Meredith McBurney, ABA Resource Center for ATJ Initiatives, Denver, CO.

The purpose of this roundtable is to provide an opportunity for legal services advocates to share information and ideas so that they are better prepared to address issues related to obtaining non-LSC federal funding. Topics will include the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and the Violence Against Women Act, privacy issues related to the Emergency Shelter Grant Program and other HUD programs, efforts to obtain legal services funding for foreclosure assistance, stimulus funds with a potential for continuation, and other issues raised by participants.

Foreclosure Prevention and Legal Assistance Programs Redux

Sharon E. Goldsmith, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.
Sheila Meehan, Florida Legal Services, Inc., Tallahassee, FL.
Jennifer van Dulmen, Community Legal Aid Services, Inc., Akron, OH.

At last year's Conference, speakers told attendees about new and nearly new programs designed to assist homeowners in distress and involving volunteer lawyers. The same speakers gather now, one year later, to talk about their experiences on the front lines of the foreclosure crisis and to provide suggestions and support to others planning their own programs now.

Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Rick Goralewicz, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK.

Many people seeking legal services have disabilities which hinder advocacy. They may be institutionalized or shut-ins, making it hard to access an attorney or the courts. For others, the disability makes it difficult to find willing counsel. Model Rule 1.14 affirms our duty to represent the vulnerable. This program addresses fulfillment of that promise. Examine the interplay of ethical considerations and professional liabilities in meeting the needs of the vulnerable, and explore communication and counseling skills available to address some of the obstacles these clients face.

Going Mobile: Strategies for Advocates, Clients and Pro Bono Volunteers

David Bonebrake, LSNTAP, Santa Monica, CA.
Michael L. Monahan, State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project, Atlanta, GA.
Jane Ribadeneyra, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.

Document available: Ribadeneyra_Outline

Document available: Slides and other Mobile Material

In a world of laptops, netbooks and iPhones, are your advocates tied to their desktops? Come learn about trends in mobile technology, including a discussion and demo of tools and resources to expand your reach to diverse communities. Find out how to take a mobile law office to clients in areas without easy access to a legal aid office by arming advocates with netbooks, wireless cards, mobile routers and portable printer/scanners. We'll also look at how to optimize your website for clients to access on their cell phones as well as ways to reach out using text messaging and podcasting.

Harnessing Law Student Energy to Serve Clients and Cultivate the Next Generation of Public Interest Advocates

Chancela Al-Mansour, Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County, Glendale, CA.
Randi Burnett, Volunteer Lawyers Program, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc., Tucson, AZ.
Hon. Fred Dardis, Pima County Superior Court, Tucson, AZ.
Steve Grumm, NALP, Washington, DC.

Document available: Outline

Document available: Handout

Document available: Handout2

The recession has strained program resources even as client needs rise. Enthusiastic, committed law students are now key assets in ensuring continued access to justice. Our experienced presenters will explore innovative models in training and supervising law students, share concrete tips on maximizing efficiency, and facilitate dialogue about models for students to effectively serve clients. Presenters will also explore the dual goal of student programs: the delivery of legal services by law students and instilling the commitment of pro bono service in future lawyers.

Helping Hard-Hit Consumers and Homeowners Through Collaboration and Technology

Allison McDermott, Pro Bono Net, New York, NY.

Large and small programs alike are identifying new, collaborative strategies to serve clients facing consumer law and foreclosure-related issues. This session will highlight several examples, including an online foreclosure defense practice area in New York City, web-based consumer education efforts in several states, and new sources of national support for technology-related pro se and pro bono initiatives. Attendees will learn how these strategies were developed and implemented, and best practices for replication.

Helping IOLTA Programs and Their Grantees Plan for the Ups and Downs in IOLTA Revenue

Jane Curran, Florida Bar Foundation, Orlando, FL.
Lillian Johnson, Community Legal Services, Phoenix, AZ.
Linda Rexer, Michigan State Bar Foundation, Lansing, MI.

Nothing is certain but death, taxes and the fact that IOLTA revenue will go up and down with changing interest rates. So, don't wait for the next cycle -- change from crisis mode to a planning approach now. Learn about strategies to help grantees and IOLTA programs plan for recurring ups and downs in IOLTA revenue, including the benefits of establishing a reserve fund when rates are high to help the IOLTA program sustain grant levels when rates drop, review considerations for grantee-held reserves, and explore other IOLTA revenue enhancement options that can help overall revenue stability.

Hot Topics in Legal Aid

Victor Fortuno, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.
Karen Sarjeant, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.

This session will concentrate on current developments affecting the legal aid community. Among the issues to be considered will be: 1) Status of efforts to reauthorize the Legal Services Corporation and to remove restrictions; 2) Funding outlook for FY 2011; 3) Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act and Older Americans Act; 4) Developments affecting IOLTA; 5) Status of transition of new LSC board and other LSC developments; 6) the status of loan repayment assistance initiatives; 7) pro bono initiatives and 8) other matters of interest to the civil legal aid community.

Hotline Adaptations to Meet Community Needs

Hilary Sohmer Dalin, National Council on Aging, Washington, DC.
David Mandel, Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento, CA.
Keith Morris, Elder Law of Michigan, Lansing, MI.

Document available: Morris_Outline

This workshop showcases two examples of how the hotline model has been expanded to provide additional needed services to clients. One program, the Benefits Enrollment Center, is an extension of the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors. The other, a Foreclosure Counseling Project, is a successful part of the California Senior Legal Hotline. Both programs show how the low cost service delivery model of hotlines can be effective in providing additional services that address an unmet need in the community.

How Courts Have Used Technology to Help Pro Se Litigants Address Their Legal Needs

Claudia Johnson, Pro Bono Net, Richland, WA.
Rochelle Klempner, New York State Courts Access to Justice Programs, New York, NY.
Susan Ledray, 4th Judicial District Court, Minneapolis, MN.
Stacey Marz, Alaska Courts, Anchorage, AK.

Document available: Outline

Document available: Ledray_Presentation

Document available: Marz_Presentation

Document available: Presentation

Document available: LawHelpInteractive Guided Interview

This workshop explores how organizations with limited resources are using proven and available tools (hotlines, web chat, websites, and online document assembly) to reach underserved clients. Specific collaborations with organizations, including court clinics, public libraries and law libraries will be discussed.

How to Pursue Successful Claims for Attorney's Fees

Booker T. Evans, Greenberg Traurig, Phoenix, AZ.

This session will provide a brief overview of necessary nuts and bolts for asserting, preserving and collecting fees; discuss some of the thornier ethical and legal hurdles that legal services attorneys are likely to face; and highlight strategies for minimizing those problems. The session will pay particular attention to the important pro bono roles private practitioners can play in training and assisting advocates to use this tool effectively for achieving results for clients and, when appropriate, recoveries for the program.

How to Start a Transactional Pro Bono Program

Laurie Hauber, ABA Business Law Section, Chicago, IL.

This workshop will present the basics of starting a transactional pro bono program. These programs serve the business law needs of community-based organizations in metropolitan, suburban and rural communities. Workshop participants will learn about service delivery models, outreach, client intake, volunteer lawyer recruitment, and case placement practices.

Identifying and Addressing Tax Issues Resounding in Multiple Legal Services Contexts

Nicole Dandridge, Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, MI.
Michele LaForest Halloran, Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, MI.

Document available: Dandridge_Outline

Legal services and pro bono providers necessarily focus on the immediate needs of clients. Yet they don t always have the resources or expertise to identify tax issues that arise in a myriad of contexts, effectively counsel clients regarding these issues, or provide the framework necessary to resolve them. Presenters will discuss the settings in which tax issues may arise and will identify strategies for collaborating with tax specialists.

Impact of Health Care Reform on Clients and the Equal Justice Community

Sara Somers, National Health Law Program, Chapel Hill, NC.

Our leaders have debated health reform for months and Congress has voted on various bills that would drastically change how our broken system works. For better or worse, the legislative wrangling is likely to come to an end by conference time. Come to this session to hear about the latest developments and talk about what they may mean for low income people.

Increasing Clients Income in Difficult Economic Times Through Self-help Tools

Robert M. Brenner, Southwestern Pennsylvannia Legal Services, Washington, PA.
Nebai Santiago Cherrick, Legal Aid Society of Orange County, Santa Ana, CA.

This workshop explores how self-help tax preparation tools can increase the income of clients while providing them a transferable skill that can be practiced in utilizing legal self-help tools and ultimately increasing self-sufficiency. This session also explores issues such as Refund Anticipation Loans and predatory lending.

Increasing Retirement Income for Low-Wage Workers and Retirees

John Hotz, National Pension Assistance Resource Center, Washington, DC.
John Nichols, Gray Plant Mooty, Minneapolis, MN.

Legal services providers play a crucial role in providing basic assistance to low-wage individuals whose retirement benefits have been improperly denied. Several strategies for winning pension and 401(k) cases will be discussed in the context of an innovative model for specialized legal services programming. The model is supported by a nationwide web-based client referral system and a national legal backup center. Pro bono counsel will discuss the role this model has played in producing successful litigation outcomes. Programmatic funding issues and opportunities will also be covered.

Intake in 3-D Using Online Tools: Special Glasses Not Required

William Guyton, Legal Services Alabama, Inc., Montgomery, AL.
Debra Hansen, Legal Services Alabama, Inc., Montgomery, AL.
Cheryl Nolan, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.

Document available: Nolan_Outline

Intake units and hotlines rely heavily on technologies to deliver effective and efficient access to legal services. Opening up the internet to low-income legal services applicants is now gaining more interest among programs as a way to increase access and improve the quality of services. Come learn how the web brings a three dimensional approach to delivery systems, what technologies are used for web applications, how they integrate into case management systems, and how data analysis tools enhance quality.

Law Firm Deferrals: What Worked, What Did Not, and How Do We Plan for the Class of 2010

Nancy Anderson, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Washington, DC.
Saralyn Cohen, Sherman & Sterling, New York, NY.
Rene Kathawala, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliff LLP, New York, NY.
Kelly Tautges, Chicago Bar Foundation, Chicago, IL.

We have entered uncharted waters with the deferrals of hundreds of law graduates and their placement, as well as that of current associates, in public interest legal programs. This workshop will address 'must know' topics: coordination of referrals, development of training, and integration into public services. It also will address the success of this pro bono initiative, what we have learned, and the program's future.

Lawyers' Roles in Building Racially and Economically Just Communities

Julian Gross, Community Benefits Law Center, San Francisco, CA.

Lawyers both promote and hinder racial and economic justice through their approach to the practice of law. Beginning with brief examples from community economic development law and continuing with an interactive dialogue, this session will explore how lawyers interact with and address systemic racial and economic inequalities at local and national levels.

Leadership Development for Justice 2010

Zenobia Lai, Center for Legal Aid Education, Boston, MA.
Lillian M. Moy, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany, NY.

This workshop will review the most promising leadership development programs occurring around the country. There will be a presentation on Legal Services NYC's leadership development program, the Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit's leadership development program as well as leadership development in Massachusetts and Florida by the Center for Legal Aid Education. Leadership New York's Leadership Development report, released in late 2009, will address how to benchmark who is in your leadership pipeline.

Legal Issues Affecting the Homeless

Paul Freese, Public Counsel, Los Angeles, CA.
Sara Sommarstrom, Minnesota Justice Foundation, Minneapolis, MN.
Jeff Yungman, Crisis Ministries, Charleston, SC.

Document available: Yungman_Outline

As a result of the current economic crisis, the number of homeless people has increased dramatically. Their legal problems cover homelessness, domestic violence, and an inability to access benefits of all kinds, including unemployment, disability and veterans benefits. Panelists will describe the legal issues of the homeless, as well as successful programs that have been able to successfully address the legal needs of their homeless clients.

Limited Scope Representation: How to Do More with Less, and Do it Well

Sharon Bashan, Pro Bono Project, San Jose, CA.
Christy Szitta, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Minneapolis, MN.
M. Sue Talia, Private Family Law Judge, Danville, CA.

Limited Scope Representation (unbundling) is now available almost everywhere, though it's not always well known. Learn how LSR offers us the opportunity to expand our resources to offer help to more people in this time when they need help even more desperately, and we have even fewer resources. We will discuss ethical issues and LSR best practices. Hear concrete examples of LSR in action in legal services: in housing, consumer, family and DV matters.

Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Assistance Programs: Essential Elements for Pursuing a Public Service Law Career

Kelly Carmody, Carmody and Associates, Phoenix, AZ.
Charles Dunlap, Indiana Bar Foundation, Indianapolis, IN.

Learn how attorneys can use new federal public service loan forgiveness and assistance programs to make their debt more affordable and pay it off faster, including the latest developments in the newest program Loan Repayment for Civil Legal Assistance Attorneys (aka Harkin program). Also learn why it is critical that statewide, law school and employer Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) continue to grow and be designed to maximize investments in these LRAPs by filling in the gaps that exist in the federal programs.

Making Adequate Legal Aid Attorney Salaries a Priority: The Time is Now

Kelly Carmody, Carmody and Associates, Phoenix, AZ.
Catherine Carr, Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, PA.
Steve Grumm, NALP, Washington, DC.

Many financially strapped civil legal aid organizations are making difficult resource allocation decisions. So are many of their attorneys whose salaries have been on the bottom rung of the legal salary ladder for years and have resulted in them struggling to live a modestly comfortable lifestyle. We invite executive directors, board members, funders, and others to join this forum-style discussion that will explore successful salary-increasing initiatives and brainstorm about staying focused on short-term and long-term organizational health even when revenue is tight.

Maximizing Service Delivery to Immigrants Through Medical-Legal Partnership: Success Stories

Samantha J. Morton, Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston, Boston, MA.
Edward G. Paul, Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma, AZ.
Ann M. Ryan, Tucson Family Advocacy Program, Tucson, AZ.
Nicolle Trudeau, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Tucson, AZ.

Document available: Ryan_Outline

Medical-legal partnerships are helping create new pathways for immigrant access to legal services. Learn how collaborations between healthcare providers, refugee resettlement agencies, legal aid attorneys, and pro bono volunteers improve access to and quality of legal services for immigrants in key areas including disability benefits and naturalization. MLP programs representatives and community partners will 1) introduce the audience to refugee resettlement process; 2) share MLP strategies for maximizing legal service delivery to refugees on health related issues; and 3) share best practices for effectively integrating pro bono partners in MLP advocacy on behalf of immigrants.

Medical-Legal Partnerships, Pro Bono and Law Schools: A Chance to Promote Cultural Change in the Legal Profession

Sylvia B. Caley, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, GA.
Daniel Idzikowski, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, WI.
Ashby Kent, Burr & Forman, Atlanta, GA.
Liz Tobin Tyler, Roger Williams University School of Law, Bristol, RI.

Document available: Caley_Outline

Medical-legal partnerships provide a unique opportunity for doctors and lawyers to work together to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations and cultivate relationships between professionals from law and medicine. By supporting interdisciplinary work in law school and beyond, MLPs can change the way lawyers think about addressing the issues faced by vulnerable populations. The workshop will discuss 1) law school MLP clinics opportunities and challenges, 2) pro bono opportunities for attorneys and students, and 3) communication between lawyers and medical professionals.

MIE Roundtable for Legal Services Executive Directors and Managers

Jan May, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Washington, DC.
Patricia Pap, Management Information Exchange, Boston, MA.

Especially important in this time of 'Challenge and Change,' this forum provides legal services 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.

Mining for the Gems: Case Management Software as a Supervision and Management Tool

Thomas G. Bedall, Pro Seniors, Inc., Cincinnati, OH.
Steven McGarrity, Community Legal Aid Services, Akron, OH.
Eric Mittelstadt, Utah Legal Services, Salt Lake City, UT.

Document available: Bedall_Materials

Document available: Bedall_Materials2

Document available: Bedall_Materials3

Document available: Bedall_Materials4

Case management systems can be used to simplify, streamline and improve supervision and management. The presentation will explain the concept, provide best practices, and give concrete examples from work underway by MIE for managing attorneys, litigation directors, pro bono coordinators, and development directors, including a demonstration of how Ohio has done it using Crystal Reports and Crystal Reports Server.

Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems for Older Adults: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

David Godfrey, ABA Commission on Law and Aging, Washington, DC.
Keith Morris, Elder Law of Michigan, Inc., Lansing, MI.
Omar Valverde, U.S. Administration on Aging, Washington, DC.

Document available: Morris_Outline

Exploring the lessons learned and insights gained from grantees of the U.S. Administration on Aging's Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems grants. Participants will gain understanding of Model Approaches projects and insights gained from their implementation. The workshop explores implications for the future design of well integrated and cost effective legal service delivery systems that target scarce resources to older adults. This workshop also focuses on the role of senior legal hotlines in effectively serving seniors as part of broader legal and aging service networks.

Nonprofit Basics

Laura A. Lo Bianco, Fennemore Craig, P.C., Phoenix, AZ.
Kendis Key Muscheid, Fennemore Craig, P.C., Phoenix, AZ.

The majority of pro bono and legal aid programs operate as nonprofit entities, exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Get the basics of what you need to know about nonprofit governance, board activities, conflict-of-interest policies, fundraising, employment policies, and other issues that come up every day for nonprofit management.

Not Enough Resources: How Law Student Pro Bono Can Help Your Program

Christine Church, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, MI.

Document available: Church_Outline

Law student pro bono work provides a wealth of resources to help your program fill the justice gap. This presentation will highlight innovative urban and rural law student volunteer projects, ways to use technology to cut costs, and time-saving training resources. Presenters will help you explore ways to implement projects and collaborate with law schools and law students, even if you are not close to a law school. Law students will leverage resources and their enthusiasm will breathe new life into your program.

NTAP's 50 NEW Tech Tips

David Bonebrake, LSNTAP, Santa Monica, CA.
Rachel Medina, Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project, Santa Monica, CA.
Leah Peabbles, Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project, Santa Monica, CA.
Joyce Raby, Joyce Raby Consulting, Fort Collins, CO.
Glenn Rawdon, Legal Services Corp. Technology Initiative Grants, Washington, DC.

Document Available: Slides with Notes (PDF)

Document Available: Slides Presentation without Notes (PDF)

Back again by popular demand! Standing room only, this session features quick tips that can change how you work. Never a repeat, this year's session will specifically feature tips that are free, low cost and help programs broaden their impact and work more efficiently.

Practical Pro Bono for Small Programs and Rural Locations

Stephanie Edelstein, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.
Helenka Marculewicz, Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, Dayton, OH.
Sarah Shella-Stevens, Central Minnesota Legal Services, St. Cloud, MN.
Kathryn Tucker, West Tennessee Legal Services Pro Bono Project, Jackson, TN.
Cheryl Zalenski, ABA Center for Pro Bono, Chicago, IL.

On your own arranging pro bono with few attorneys in your area? This session will provide practical tips from successful programs in rural areas and smaller programs. Participants will find out what has worked for others in similar situations and receive sample materials for effective recruitment, training, referrals, service delivery, and recognition.

Private Attorney Involvement for LSC Programs: A Vision for the Future

Kathy Duncan, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, Dallas, TX.
Michele Mirto, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Tucson, AZ.
A. Michael Pratt, Pepper Hamilton, Philadelphia, PA.

LSC requires its grantees to allocate the equivalent of 12.5% of their basic field funding to involving private attorneys in their work. Programs should regularly be reviewing their PAI efforts to assess whether they are maximizing the potential of the private bar in their area. Come share your vision for what private attorney involvement for LSC programs should be, and how LSC might help achieve this vision. In addition to addressing innovative program ideas discussion will include an examination of the role of the LSC PAI regulation in supporting or hindering the expansion of pro bono by LSC grantees.

Pro Bono 2.0: New Challenges, Next Generation Solutions

Marilyn Harp, Kansas Legal Services, Topeka, KS.
Liz Keith, Pro Bono Net, San Francisco, CA.
Mike Monahan, State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project, Atlanta, GA.

Document available: Keith_Materials

This session will explore novel yet replicable approaches to pro bono engagement support enabled by technology and innovative staffing methods/procedures. Attendees will learn about the use of webinars, document assembly, statewide advocate sites other online resources to support pro bono participation in times of austerity. This will also highlight the use of LiveHelp as innovative avenue for pro bono participation by law students and attorney volunteers.

Pro Bono and Legal Services in Times of Crisis: Responding to Natural or Man-Made Disasters

Nancy Anderson, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Washington, DC.
John C. Eidleman, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC.
Murray C. Greason, III, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Winston-Salem, NC.
Mary Ellen Martinet, FEMA, Arlington, VA.

Document available: Eidleman_Materials

Document available: Eidleman_Materials2

Document available: Eidleman_Materials3

In the past several years, both natural and man-made disasters have brought huge legal challenges. Whether a hurricane or an economic crisis, each disaster has taught us how to better mobilize lawyers to address disasters in the future. This workshop will address putting in place systems for response before disaster strikes.

Protecting the Rights of Tenants in Foreclosed Properties

Janice Chiaretto, Statewide Legal Services, Middletown, CT.
Jeff Kastner, Community Legal Services, Phoenix, AZ.

Document available: Chiaretto_Outline

This session will educate participants and encourage discussion about the rights of tenants in properties facing foreclosure, emphasizing the new federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA). Panelists will discuss PTFA's protections, its interplay with state laws, and how both can be used to help assist tenants facing eviction due to foreclosure.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Pro Bono: How Law Firms and Providers Work Together to Better Address Needs

Tiela Chalmers, Volunteer Legal Services Program, San Francisco, CA.
Joseph Sullivan, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia, PA.
Albert Wallis, Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest, Boston, MA.

Document available: Chalmers_Handout1

Document available: Chalmers_Handout2

This workshop will explore ways in which providers and firms can come together to create pro bono projects that provide needed service while working within the constraints on both provider and law firm pro bono programs. Panelists will address issues such as jointly developing pro bono projects to foster success and how to measure the success of pro bono efforts.

Responding to the Lack of Counsel for Detained Immigrants

Austin T. Fragomen, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, New York, NY.
Karen Grisez, Fried Frank, Washington, DC.
Rene Kathawala, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliff LLP, New York, NY.
Chris Nugent, Equal Justice Works, Washington, DC.

Document available: Fragomen_Outline

Document available: Fragomen_Handout1

Document available: Fragomen_Handout2

Document available: Fragomen_Handout3

The report "Reforming the Immigration System: Proposals to Promote Independence, Fairness, Efficiency, and Professionalism in the Adjudication of Removal Cases" found that more than half of respondents in removal proceedings and 84 percent of detained respondents do not have representation. This lack of adequate representation adversely impacts the system and everyone involved. This session will focus on how pro bono collaborations can expand capacity to address the lack of counsel for detained immigrants.

Responsible Representation of Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Stalking

Rebecca Henry, ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Washington, DC.
Vivian Huelgo, ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Washington, DC.
Anya Lakner, ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Washington, DC.
Amie Lopez, ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Washington, DC.

Document available: Lopez_Outline

This interactive panel, presented by staff of the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, will highlight what attorneys must consider when representing victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including (1) responsible protocols for handling civil protection order proceedings, (2) the quality of legal representation of victims, and (3) effectively, ethically, and holistically representing victims. Discussion will also focus on cultural issues; the role of immigration status, age and/or disability; communicating with clients and other related representation challenges.

Roundtable Discussion for Women of Color Project Directors and Friends

This session will provide a confidential and safe space for Women of Color Project Directors (WOC) to discuss issues they face in their programs. WOC will gain confidential feedback, strategizing and support from other women of color project directors. We expect to address issues of communicating with Boards of Directors who are predominantly white males; leading/managing when personal values conflict with mainstream identification of success; work/life balance; getting support and mentoring when we are one of only a few Women of Color Project Directors in a state or region. Women of Color senior management are also welcome.

Rural Community and Economic Development: How Attorneys, Law Schools and Community Groups Can Work Together

Steve Virgil, Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, NC.

This program explores the partnerships that necessarily develop when lawyers are involved in low-income rural community development efforts. Attendees will learn about the CED movement and will hear about the personal experiences of lawyers involved in rural CED efforts. Panelists will present the perspectives of legal aid organizations, community development organizations and law school clinics involved in CED efforts. Attendees will participate in an active analysis of the role played by lawyers, law students and community leaders in achieving economic justice in rural areas.

Service, Volunteerism and Legal Services: Bridging the Justice Gap with AmeriCorps

LeAnna Hart Gipson, Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, Columbus, OH.
Lillian M. Moy, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany, NY.

The current funding crisis in legal services limits capacity and staffing. Equal Justice Works can provide information on AmeriCorps Programs as an option to increase staff capacity for existing or new projects. Participants will discuss funding opportunities at the state and national levels, and brainstorm potential projects with current AmeriCorps Legal Fellows.

Should Google Apps Power the Next Generation Legal Aid Office? Analyzing the Cost-Savings, Coolness-Factor, and Controversy

David Bonebrake, LSNTAP, Santa Monica, CA.
Kathleen Brockel, Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project (LSNTAP), Flint, MI.
Steven McGarrity, Community Legal Aid Services, Inc, Akron, OH.
Glenn Rawdon, Legal Services Corporation TIG, Washington DC, DC.

Document Available: Presentation

The legal aid community is confused about the ethical and confidentiality implications surrounding moving to a cloud-based system like Google Apps. This session looks at the experiences of early adopters, explores the debate over cloud computing, and tries to answer one simple question: Is Google Apps right for you?

Social Networking 101: Tweeting for Justice

Abbie S. Fink, HMA Public Relations, Phoenix, AZ.
Melanie Green, Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis, IN.

Twitter? LinkedIn? Facebook? Social networks are not just for twentysomethings and celebrities. Learn how individuals and organizations can use these valuable and FREE resources to gain visibility, promote causes, recruit volunteers, and interest donors. To illustrate the power and potential of this technology, the program will include live demonstrations of several social networking services. Attendees can use free wifi access to join a virtual discussion during the program by following @Tweet4Justice or searching #T4J on Twitter.

Social Networking 201: Bridging the Justice Gap

Matthew Burnett, Pro Bono Net, New York, NY.
Jason T. Vail, ABA Military Pro Bono Project, Chicago, IL.

This advanced course in using social networking in legal aid and pro bono programs will further explore using social media to advocate for your clients, promote your program, and recruit pro bono attorneys and law students. It will provide real world examples, strategies and best practices, discuss advanced topics such as developing social media policies for your organization and how to evaluate your program's social media success.

State Funding Roundtable: A Discussion of the Most Critical Issues Related to State Legislative Funding for Legal Services

Meredith McBurney, ABA Resource Center for ATJ Initiatives, Denver, CO.

The purpose of this roundtable is to provide a forum for those working on state legislative funding to discuss current issues, problems and opportunities related to state legislative funding. An agenda of presentation and discussion topics will be determined immediately prior to the conference, based on the needs and interests of state legislative funding advocates from around the country.

Statewide Delivery of Self Help Services Using Technology Available at Public Libraries

Marcia Koslov, Los Angeles Law Library, Los Angeles, CA.
Judy Meadows, State Law Library, Helena, MT.
Richard Zorza, Self-Represented Litigation Network, Washington, DC.

Legal aid organizations have natural partners in providing access to justice right around the corner in their communities: public libraries. This program will describe why libraries can and should assist self-represented litigants; why we need them to be our partners; and how they can share their facilities, technology, and reference staffs. Insights from the recent Public Libraries and Access to Justice conference, sponsored by the National Center for State Courts and LSC, and funded by the Gates Foundation, will be summarized, and models for partnerships provided.

Stranger in a Strange Land: Achieving Cross-Cultural Justice (Part 1)

Karen Grisez, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Washington, DC.
Alison Renteln, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Delissa A. Ridgway, United States Court of International Trade, New York, NY.
Jonathan Turley, George Washington University School of Law, Washington, DC.
Rene L. Valladares, US Department of Justice, District of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV.

Through a series of vignettes drawn from fascinating, real-life cases, a panel of leading cross-cultural experts will demonstrate the need for cultural competency in the courts. Panel experts will sketch the facts of a case and allow the audience to vote on the outcome. The panelists will then discuss the actual case and offer expert analysis. Specific sessions will focus on civil, criminal, and administrative hearings. This will be a highly interactive program that will include a provocative discussion with faculty and attendees on cultural competence in substantive legal areas.

Stranger in a Strange Land: Achieving Cross-Cultural Justice (Part 2)

Karen Grisez, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Washington, DC.
Alison Renteln, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Delissa A. Ridgway, United States Court of International Trade, New York, NY.
Jonathan Turley, George Washington University School of Law, Washington, DC.
Rene L. Valladares, US Department of Justice, District of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV.

Document available: Ridgway_Outline

Through a series of vignettes drawn from fascinating, real-life cases, a panel of leading cross-cultural experts will demonstrate the need for cultural competency in the courts. Panel experts will sketch the facts of a case and allow the audience to vote on the outcome. The panelists will then discuss the actual case and offer expert analysis. Specific sessions will focus on civil, criminal, and administrative hearings. This will be a highly interactive program that will include a provocative discussion with faculty and attendees on cultural competence in substantive legal areas.

Synergy, Energy and Increased Commitment - A Roundtable on Pro Bono and Fundraising

Meredith McBurney, ABA Resource Center for ATJ Initiatives, Denver, CO.
Kelly Tautges, Chicago Bar Foundation, Chicago, IL.

Is your program engaging attorneys in positive pro bono activities that are helping to increase giving? Are you interested in looking for new ways to involve members of the private bar in giving and volunteering? If so, we hope you will join us for this roundtable. We will set the stage with a discussion of what we should be getting from our efforts to develop pro bono - time, money, influence - and the costs involved. We will share some on-going and proposed projects, and we hope you will come with your own success stories, challenges and ideas.

The Challenges and Opportunities of Public Interest Impact Litigation and Pro Bono

Nancy Anderson, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Washington, DC.
David Lash, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, San Francisco, CA.
Debbie Segal, Kilpatrick Stockton, Atlanta, GA.
Suzanne Turner, Dechert LLP, Philadelphia, PA.

During these difficult economic times, public interest and pro bono law firm partnerships on impact/class action litigation creates unique challenges including defining the law firm's role, handling litigation costs, and addressing staff resources and law firm expectations. This session will cover drafting co-counsel and client retainer agreements, staffing the legal team, articulating a clear decision-making process, and addressing distribution of attorneys' fees.

The Latest in Cy Pres and Other Court Awards

Dennis Dorgan, Circle Pines, MN.
Dan Glazier, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, St. Louis, MO.
Lois Wood, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, East St. Louis, IL.

Cy Pres and other types of court awards have increasingly become an important part of the funding mix for legal services programs over the last several years. This workshop will discuss how the bar and judiciary have responded to the opportunities for directing awards to legal services, what opposition has arisen to these awards, and the tactics being used to develop a broader range of support for our efforts to having court awards directed to legal services for the poor.

Thinking Outside the Phone: Staffing Models and Technology to Maximize Hotline Resources

Laurel Heer Dale, AccessLine, Legal Aid of Nebraska, Omaha, NE.
David Mandel, Senior Legal Hotline, Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento, CA.
Sue Wasserkrug, Pennsylvania SeniorLAW Helpline, Philadelphia, PA.

Document available: Mandel_Outline

Document available: Dale_Materials

Document available: Dale_Materials2

Document available: Dale_Materials3

Legal hotlines are continually searching for the most cost-effective ways to deliver high-quality services. This session will explore how telephone and case/information management technologies, combined with alternative staffing models such as remote attorneys, law students and volunteers, expands the ability of legal hotlines of various types to increase their capacity.

Translation and Interpretation at a Legal Services Program: How to Do it Well

Monica Buckley, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Toledo, OH.

Document available: Buckley_Outline

Document available: Buckley_Materials

Clear, effective, and accurate information and facts are vital for the delivery of competent legal services. Limited English proficient populations face more burdens than poverty; they face problems communicating with their lawyers. In this session, you will learn how to design, construct and implement a quality translation program for your legal aid program by looking at a real working model presently in operation.

Unlocking the Doors to Justice: Alternatives to Full Legal Representation

Jennifer Castro, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Phoenix, AZ.
Diane Drain, Law Office of D.L. Drain, PA., Phoenix, AZ.
Patricia Gerrich, Community Legal Services, Phoenix, AZ.
Leslie Ross, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Phoenix, AZ.
Anthony Young, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc., Tucson, AZ.

Learn about five different alternatives to full representation from across Arizona for immigration, family, consumer, housing and tribal law matters. Participants will be provided the opportunity to apply session content to their local community through hands-on participant exercises. Additionally, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the ethical requirements of limited scope representation. Come get more ideas about how to serve low and moderate income clients in this difficult economy.

Utilizing Non-Attorney Volunteers to Increase Access to Justice

Margaret Cornelius, Volunteer Lawyers Program, Community Legal Services, Phoenix, AZ.
Anne Hoyt Taff, Volunteer Lawyers Network & Minnesota Justice Foundation, Minneapolis, MN.
Edwina Frances Martin, Legal Services New York City, New York, NY.

Document available: Martin_Handout1

Document available: Martin_Handout2

Document available: Martin_Handout3

Willing to share your experiences recruiting, utilizing and supporting non-attorney volunteers? Interested in involving more volunteers to enhance legal services for people with low incomes? Discuss your successes and challenges and get tips for encouraging volunteers to become life-long advocates for equal justice.

Viva CLARO: Collaborative Service Delivery in Consumer Law

Sidney Cherubin, Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Brooklyn, NY.
April A. Newbauer, The Legal Aid Society, Kew Gardens, NY.

Vulnerable populations are staggering under an inequitable debt load, but are unable to challenge debt collectors or navigate the court system. The Civil Legal Advice and Referral Office ("CLARO") Project levels the playing field by offering broad guidance to consumers attempting to defend debt-related actions. This program will describe CLARO, its partners and how it effectively assists debtors. Attendees will, through role-playing, experience a CLARO session.

Why a Civil Right to Counsel is Part of the Solution Even in a Time of Economic Crisis

Bonnie Hough, Judicial Council of California, San Francisco, CA.
John Pollock, Public Justice Center, Baltimore, MD.

Document available: Pollock_Outline

A civil right to counsel is an inspiring concept that is often criticized as being unaffordable. While it may be difficult to imagine a government-funded lawyer for every litigant, strong arguments support providing counsel, as of right, to some categories of individuals in some categories of cases. Come hear about new statutory developments, civil right to counsel cases in the courts, societal cost savings, and work being done by ATJ Commissions, bar associations and academics. Then, participate in an active conversation about where we go from here.

Working to Solve National Immigration Issues: A Look at Policy and Direct Representation Efforts

Betsy Cavendish, Appleseed, Washington, DC.
Karen Grisez, ABA Commission on Immigration, Washington, DC.
C. Mario Russell, Refugee and Immigration Legal Services, Staten Island, NY.
Marcia Tavares Maack, Mayer Brown, Washington, DC.

Document available: Cavendish_Handout1

Document available: Cavendish_Handout2

Document available: Cavendish_Handout3

Document available: Cavendish_Handout4

Document available: Cavendish_Handout5

Document available: Cavendish_Materials1

This workshop will focus on the ways in which various groups are coming together to best serve and advocate for immigrants, refugees and newcomers to our nation through policy and direct representation pro bono work. Panelists will discuss new and successful models for direct and limited scope representation as well as advocacy to change policy.

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Workshop Archive 2010

EJC 2010 Materials