Civil Standards
Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid
Table of Contents
Standards for Governance
- Standard 1.1 - Overall Functions and Responsibilities of the Governing Body
- Standard 1.1-1 - Governing Body Oversight of the Provider
- Standard 1.1-2 - Prohibition Against Interference in the Representation of Clients
- Standard 1.1-3 - Fiscal Matters
- Standard 1.1-4 - Relations with the Chief Executive
- Standard 1.1-5 - Serving as a Resource to the Provider
- Standard 1.1-6 - Resource Development
- Standard 1.2 - Governing Body Members' Responsiveness to the Communities Served
- Standard 1.2-1 - Individual Members' Commitment to the Provider
- Standard 1.2-2 - Board Members from the Communities Served by the Provider
- Standard 1.2-3 - Training of Members of the Governing Body
- Standard 1.2-4 - Governing Body Members' Conflicts of Interest
- Standard 1.3 - Governing Body Communication with Low Income and Legal Communities
Standards Regarding Provider Effectiveness - General Requirements
- Standard 2.1 - Identifying Legal Needs and Planning to Respond
- Standard 2.2 - Delivery Structure
- Standard 2.3 - Participation in Statewide and Regional Systems
- Standard 2.4 - Cultural Competence
- Standard 2.5 - Staff Diversity
- Standard 2.6 - Achieving Lasting Results for Low Income Individuals and Communities
- Standard 2.7 - Integrating the Resources of the Legal Profession and Involvement of Members of the Bar
- Standard 2.8 - Relations with the Organized Bar
- Standard 2.9 - Use of Non-attorney Practitioners
- Standard 2.10 - Effective Use of Technology
- Standard 2.11 - Provider Evaluation
- Standard 2.12 - Institutional Stature and Credibility
Standards Regarding Provider Effectiveness - Delivery Structure and Methods
- Standard 3.1 - Full Legal Representation
- Standard 3.2 - Legislative and Administrative Advocacy
- Standard 3.3 - Community Economic Development
- Standard 3.4 - Limited Representation
- Standard 3.4-1 - Representation Limited to Legal Advice
- Standard 3.4-2 - Representation Limited to Brief Service
- Standard 3.5 - Assistance to Pro Se Litigants
- Standard 3.6 - Provision of Legal Information
Standards for Relations with Clients
- Standard 4.1 - Provider's Intake System
- Standard 4.2 - Establishing a Clear Understanding
- Standard 4.3 - Protecting Client Confidences
- Standard 4.4 - Client and Attorneys' Fees
- Standard 4.5 - Access to Services
- Standard 4.6 - Communication in the Primary Languages of Persons Served
- Standard 4.7 - Client Complaint Procedure
Standards for Internal Systems and Procedure
- Standard 5.1 - Eligibility Guidelines
- Standard 5.2 - Policy for Acceptance of Applicants for Service
- Standard 5.3 - Maintenance of Records
- Standard 5.4 - Case Files
- Standard 5.5 - Policy Regarding Costs of Representation
Standards for Quality Assurance
- Standard 6.1 - Characteristics of Staff
- Standard 6.2 - Assignment and Management of Cases and Workload
- Standard 6.3 - Responsibility for the Conduct of Representation
- Standard 6.4 - Review of Representation
- Standard 6.5 - Training
- Standard 6.6 - Providing Adequate Resources for Research and Investigation
Standards for Practitioners
- Standard 7.1 - Establishing an Effective Relationship and a Clear Understanding with the Client
- Standard 7.2 - Client Participation in the Conduct of Representation
- Standard 7.3 - Practitioner's Responsibilities to Protect Client Confidences
- Standard 7.4 - Initial Exploration of the Client's Legal Problem
- Standard 7.5 - Investigation
- Standard 7.6 - Legal Analysis and Research
- Standard 7.7 - Case Planning
- Standard 7.8 - Legal Counseling
- Standard 7.9 - Negotiation
- Standard 7.10 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Standard 7.11 - Litigation
- Standard 7.11-1 - Litigation Strategy
- Standard 7.11-2 - Pleadings
- Standard 7.11-3 - Motion Practice
- Standard 7.11-4 - Discovery
- Standard 7.11-5 - Trial Practice
- Standard 7.11-6 - Enforcement of Orders
- Standard 7.11-7 - Appeals
- Standard 7.12 - Administrative Hearings
- Standard 7.13 - Legislative and Administrative Advocacy by Practitioners
- Standard 7.14 - Practitioner's Responsibilities in Limited Representation
- Standard 7.15 - Transactional Representation
- Standard 7.16 - Representation of Groups and Organizations
- Standard 7.17 - Maintenance of Professional Competence