In 1997, the Law School Consortium Project [http://www.lawschoolconsortium.net] was launched to develop and promote programs that support solo and small firm practitioners, improve the delivery of affordable, quality legal services to communities and individuals who may not qualify for legal aid and extend the public service mission of law schools beyond graduation,. The Project has fostered various models at participating law schools. One such model is the Community Legal Resource Network (CLRN).

In 2002, the Civil Justice Network was the recipient of the Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access. This project originated at the University of Maryland School of Law. Also, the Community Legal Resource Network of the University of the City of New York was recently featured in the ABA Journal. The materials advanced in this blueprint draw from those programs.

• What is a Community Legal Resource Network?
• Why Develop a CLRN?
• What's Involved in a CLRN?
• Who should I contact for more information?

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What is a Community Legal Resource Network?

A CLRN is an entity that provides support to solo and small firm lawyers who delivery personal legal services. It serves the purposes of expanding access to low and moderate-income populations while advancing the viability of this type of practice setting. By promoting the notion of doing well by doing good, the networks are dedicated to re-envisioning the lawyer's role in the community and his or her status in the legal profession.

The CLRN at CUNY is integrated into the law school there, while the Civil Justice Network is an affiliated program of the University of Maryland Law School, but operates as a stand-alone non-profit entity.

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Why Develop a CLRN?

Some of the goals of the networks are to:

• Increase access to low and moderate-income populations in order to advance both individual and community interests. For example, the Civil Justice Network is active in litigation against predatory lenders, helping individuals, preventing homelessness and solidifying the economic base of their community;
• Help community-based law practices be economically viable and advance the ability of lawyers to earn a living representing low and moderate-income people;
• Redefine the mission of law schools to serve as a community resource and extend legal education to its students after graduation.

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What's Involved in a CLRN?

CLRN's provide a variety of resources to participating lawyers, most of which are designed to overcome the cultural isolation of solo and small practitioners and to enhance their economic viability. Some of the services provided include:

Networking

CLRN's provide some formality and enhancement to networks, which commonly exist among personal legal service lawyers. For example, the Civil Justice Network maintains an email-based listserv allowing its members to communicate with one another on a regular basis. The CLRN at CUNY provides physical space at various school sites that allow participating lawyers to gather for programs and discussions. The CUNY network also ties its members together with an active listserv.

Mentoring

Both experienced lawyers, including senior lawyers, and faculty members are involved as resources to network lawyers who need advice on strategies and procedures. Networks also draw upon experts to provide continuing legal education to their members.

Client Development

The Civil Justice Network includes marketing services, offering design and production of brochures, cards and presentations, and web site listings and links. The Network also uses its listserv to refer clients to the participating lawyers. Specialty panels have been created and referrals are sent to members on a rotational basis over the Internet. If a member does not want a particular referral, the case is available to any network member.

Practice Management Assistance

In an effort to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of solo and small firm practices, the networks serve as a resource on practice management issues. Assistance is provided in areas such as the financing of a practice start-up, IOLTA compliance, case management and time-keeping systems, access to forms and information about ethical obligations. The use of technology in the practice of law is also stressed and supported through CLRN's. The director at the University of Maryland teaches a law practice management course at the law school, in which network members discuss their own office practices with law students.

Legal Research

The CLRN at CUNY provides on-going assistance with legal research and contracts with Westlaw for member discounts, while the Civil Justice Network provides its members with discounted access to Lexis and provides an electronic clipping service tailored to the needs of the specific practices of network members.

Price-Reduced Products

The Civil Justice Network acts as an aggregator to obtain group discounts on Lexis research access. The CLRN at CUNY has been successful in acquiring contributions from manufacturers of technology equipment and software to assist its members in the operations of their practices.

Interns

The CLRN at CUNY has provided members with student interns in the anticipation that the interns will be encouraged to pursue community practice careers after law school. Civil Justice Network members serve as supervising attorneys in the University of Maryland general practice clinic.

Contemplative Lawyering

Consistent with the recognition that solo and small firm practices are stressful, the CLRN at CUNY has joined with other resources within the school to develop a program that incorporates yoga and meditation into the daily lives of the participating members.

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Who should I contact for more information?

If you are interested in developing a Community Legal Resource Network, contact:

Lovely Dhillon, Executive Director, Law School Consortium Project, , Phone: 415/561-6699

Denis J. Murphy, Executive Director, Civil Justice Network, , Phone: 410/706-0174

Fred Rooney, Project Director, CUNY School of Law, , Phone: 718/340-4451

Also, see A Guidebook for Law Schools, by Deborah Howard.