2004 Equal Justice Conference - Workshop Materials by Track
|
Addressing Environmental Issues Through Private Bar Partnerships Have you ever considered using partnerships with the private bar to address environmental issues? In this workshop, the panel of private and legal services attorneys will discuss the models for and the benefits of such partnerships. The session will also include identifying environmental and housing causes of action and obtaining the resources needed to pursue such claims.
|
|
Assisting Special Populations Through Partnerships
Document available: Cultural Competency (fact sheet (4 pages)
Document available: Expanding Legal Services: Serving Limited English Proficient Asians and Pacific Islanders (APALC report, Nov. 2003)
Document available: Outline (extensive outline with results from break out groups' brainstorming sessions) This workshop will address partnerships formed by pro bono attorneys, legal services staff, bar associations, community organizations and others in an effort to provide services to special populations, including immigrants with limited English proficiency and/or limited literacy skills and deaf client populations. Participants will engage in an exercise to identify resources and opportunities for partnerships in their communities.
|
|
Balancing the Scales of Justice: Working With the Judiciary to Promote Pro Bono Drawing on examples from Las Vegas and Boston, this panel will include members of the judiciary and pro bono program staff who have worked together to develop pro bono projects and improve pro bono client services. Come learn practical tips on setting up pro bono initiatives and working more effectively with the judiciary to recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys.
|
|
Combatting the Website Blues: A Showcase of Content and Outreach Approaches from Around the Country Document available: Survey Responses and Session Notes This workshop will take a tour of creative content generation/collection and outreach tactics used around the country for statewide client and advocate websites. We will look specifically at content and outreach directed at three audiences: legal services clients, legal services attorneys and pro bono volunteers.
|
|
Creating A Pro Bono Program to Address the Special Legal Problems of Unaccompanied Minors Document available: Alone Without a Home: A State-by-State Review of Laws Affecting Unaccompanied Youth (National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty report excerpts, 2003)
Document available: Weblinks Unaccompanied youth and their advocates struggle with many legal issues, including access to shelter, public education, medical/mental health care and emancipation. Panelists will address the legal problems of unaccompanied youth and provide participants with concrete guidance as to how they can create new pro bono projects/partnerships aimed at meeting the legal needs of these youth. The substantive portion of the program will be based on Alone Without a Home: A State-by-State Review of Laws Affecting Unaccompanied Youth.
|
|
Creating Video: For Client Education, Outreach, Fundraising, Training and More If you are considering using video in your outreach efforts, or simply for archiving, attend this basic video production training. Learn to capture your important people and events in clean clear picture and sound. Find out what you'll need to turn your recordings into professional looking finished programs. Discover the easiest and least expensive way to duplicate and distribute your programs to the widest possible audience. Learn the basics of deploying your video on the internet.
|
|
Ethics of Unbundling Many states are examining unbundled legal services as a method of enhancing access to the courts. Part of this examination includes an analysis of ethics and procedural rules. A few states have now amended their rules of professional conduct and procedure to enable unbundled practices. This session looks at the need for rule changes, the areas that have been addressed and the ways in which some states have paved the way for unbundled practices.
|
|
Evaluating Outcomes From Legal Hotlines to Full-Service: Frameworks and Follow-Ups Document available: Outline
Expected outcomes for hotline clients differ from those of full-service programs. This workshop will explore ways in which legal hotlines and full service programs have attempted to determine client outcomes for the different services rendered. Panelists will discuss how follow-up contacts are made and how the outcomes are used for evaluation and strategic planning. The co-author of the Project for the Future of Equal Justice Hotlines Outcome Assessment Study will offer some suggestions regarding outcomes evaluation including how to define outcomes and their relationship to hotline operations.
|
|
Fear and Loathing: Helping Staff Become Comfortable with Hotline Technology Start-up investments into call centers and hotline technologies require a ramp-up in cost and training. Call center advocates and managers unfamiliar with daily use of complicated technologies often underuse or are overwhelmed by the features of existing hotline technologies. This session explores specific, necessary hotline technologies and offers recommendations of how to maximize existing technologies, consider new ones, and work with staff and managers to effectively use or renew interest in technologies available to them.
|
|
Getting the Most Out of Your Case Management System Document available: Weblinks
Document available: Outline Geared toward managers who want to purchase a new case management system (CMS) or learn how to make the most out of their current CMS, session topics include: creating a meaningful process for selecting a system; figuring out what your program needs its CMS to do; evaluating internal resources available to implement and support a CMS; staff training; and a review of CMS features and characteristics. This session is based on the CMS report recently released by Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Though they will not focus on comparing existing systems, session leaders will take specific questions.
|
|
Holistic Approaches to Advocacy: Creating a Medical-Legal Collaborative This workshop explores possibilities for building effective medical-legal collaboratives designed to improve the health and welfare of low-income families and children. Panelists will discuss the role of these programs in improving client access to legal services and provide participants with tips on how to begin developing the necessary partnerships between various entities to make a medical-legal collaborative a reality. The workshop will also cover how to avoid some common difficulties in creating these programs and strategies for incorporating a pro bono component into the project.
|
|
How to Establish and Maintain Successful Pro Bono Partnerships with Large Firms Do you already have a successful pro bono partnership with large law firms in your service area? If you answer this question with a resounding no, this workshop is for you. Panelists from both sides of the relationship pro bono program managers and law firm pro bono coordinators will discuss their strategies for building successful pro bono partnerships from the ground up.
|
|
Identifying Clients and Client Needs for a Business Law Pro Bono Program One of the challenges reported by many business pro bono programs is the need to have a steady stream of good clients with good projects for volunteers. Doing this well is one of the things that distinguishes excellent programs from mediocre ones. This session brings together seasoned professionals to discuss how you can connect to groups that are making a real difference in the community and find projects that have real impact. Panelists will discuss various outreach techniques, intake criteria and proven screening procedures that will enable you to handle this critical function effectively.
|
|
Impact of LSC Rules on PAI Programs and Private Attorneys Pro bono and private attorney involvement (PAI) programs that are grantees or subgrantees of Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded programs should be familiar with the LSC regulations - what they are and which ones apply. This program will review the regulations most applicable to pro bono and PAI program operations. The panel will address concerns common to pro bono programs, such as what kind of documentation needs to be in each PAI case file, issues that may arise in OCE or OIG audits and when the LSC restrictions apply to pro bono attorneys.
|
|
Innovative Delivery Methods From the Private Bar Lawyers working in the marketplace are experimenting with different ways of delivering legal services in cost-effective ways. Members of the ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services illustrate some of these innovations and examine ways in which these ideas may be adaptable to the delivery of legal services to the poor.
|
|
Law Schools as Access to Justice Partners Document available: Outline
This session will cover the challenges and rewards of partnering with law schools. Panelists will engage participants in a discussion of the challenges in working with law school constituencies and help them to develop strategies to overcome them in order to secure more pro bono volunteers, research assistance, free CLEs, etc. The session will also look at different models which integrate law students and faculty into legal services work across communities, including the Equal Justice Works Pro Bono Legal Corps, the Minnesota Justice Foundation and Texas Tech School of Law Wills Project.
|
|
Lawyers for Community Change: An Introduction to Business Law Pro Bono With the rapidly expanding technological resources available to provide legal assistance, we have a remarkable opportunity to provide legal information and assistance to communities we have never reached before. What types of partnerships are being developed to encourage use of legal websites, document assembly programs and other resources in the community? How can we use volunteers effectively to provide these services? Come hear about lessons learned from the National Conference on Community-Based Access to Justice.
|
|
Legal Hotlines: Steering a Course Through Ethical Issues Since hotlines provide a unique environment for the delivery of legal services, they also create unique ethical dilemmas. Issues such as third party interactions, anonymous advise and the application of new rules such as ABA Model Rule 6.5, excusing some obligations to check conflicts, are examined during this workshop. Hotline advisors are encourage to raise their questions and share their experiences with leading ethicists.
|
|
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs: Paving The Way To Public Service
Document available: Lifting the Burden: Law Student Debt as a Barrier to Public Service (report of ABA Commission on Loan Repayment and Forgiveness, 2003) Loan repayment assistance programs ("LRAPS") have emerged as an important approach to addressing educational debt burden faced by law graduates interested in pursuing public interest legal careers. This session will provide an opportunity to learn about statewide and employer initiated LRAP programs, as well as law school efforts in this arena. An update on pending federal legislation will also be presented.
|
|
Locating and Serving Hidden Client Populations Document available: Expanding Legal Services: Serving Limited English Proficient Asians and Pacific Islanders (APALC report, Nov. 2003)
Increasingly, the plight of immigrant and other populations not traditionally aware of or served by legal services programs is receiving attention. This session will examine how to identify, locate, conduct outreach to, and serve non-traditional client populations through projects involving pro bono attorneys and other volunteers. Panelists will describe collaborative projects developed to reach out to underserved populations.
|
|
Outcome Measurement: Assessing Client's Perspectives of the Impact of Legal Aid Services in Their Lives In partnership with Center for Nonprofits and with the support of Tulsa Area United Way, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) created an outcome measurement process for assessing client perceptions of the impact of LASO services. LASO staff will facilitate a session on how to evaluate benefits for clients plus improve services as well as offer some pointers for programs on how to develop their own programs.
|
|
Partnering to Create a Successful Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project Pro bono bankruptcy projects have sprung up across the country in recent years to help address a variety of concerns in bankruptcy courts, such as an increase in pro se litigants. In this workshop, the panelists will discuss their involvement in pro bono bankruptcy projects designed to address these problems by bringing together various segments of the legal community. Discussion will center on the panelists' efforts to provide training for all volunteers, serve as mentors to participants, and work with other legal entities to develop coordinated intake and referral procedures.
|
|
Partnerships in Law and Aging Programs: Lessons Learned From an Evaluation Document available: PLAP Funding Chart by State
Document available: PLAP Projects Funded (description of projects funded to date)
Document available: PLAP Funding Announcement
Document available: Weblinks
The Partnerships in Law and Aging Program is designed to foster collaborative community based projects addressing law-related needs of vulnerable elders. Are these goals being met? Is it strategically sound for today's legal services' world? Participants will describe a recent evaluation undertaken to answer these and other questions, and will discuss how others involved in funding and conducting collaborative partnerships can use this evaluation tool.
|
|
Partnerships with Paralegals: Successful Utilization of Legal Assistants in Pro Bono Programs This session will demonstrate how partnering with paralegals can increase the available resources for providing pro bono legal services. Panelists will discuss ways in which paralegals can participate in the delivery of pro bono legal services. The panel will also discuss several innovative projects involving paralegals in pro bono.
|
|
Pro Bono at Mid-Size Law Firms Many large law firms have sophisticated pro bono programs, and small firms are often stalwart volunteers. But what about the vast middle ground? This workshop offers several creative models for recruitment at mid-size firms, described by panelists from multiple geographic regions of varying sizes. These models include a one-day conference on pro bono policies, projects and promotion for mid-size law firms and the use of CLE credit with carefully managed and structured projects and substantive training provided at no cost to participants.
|
|
Pro Bono Mediation Partnerships: Meeting the Needs of Low-Income Clients through ADR Interested in learning how mediation can assist you in serving your client base? This workshop will present information on how partnerships between pro bono mediators and legal service providers can better assist low-income persons in their communities. The panelists will address the question of how such programs will help low-income constituencies, and they will discuss strategies for establishing and administering pro bono mediation programs in the attendees geographic areas.
|
|
Pro Bono Post-Reconfiguration: Strategies for Moving Forward Document available: Legal Aid of North West Texas, Equal Justice Volunteer Program, 2004 Annual Work Plan (2004 PAI Plan)
Document available: The Impact of Legal Services Program Reconfiguration on Pro Bono (ABA Center for Pro Bono report, April 2003) The state plan is written, programs have merged, the dust is settling how can the legal community move pro bono forward? Panelists will discuss a variety of efforts - from the program level to statewide - to promote and advance pro bono post-reconfiguration.
|
|
Promoting Pro Bono through Statewide and Regional Pro Bono Manager Networks Learn about regional and statewide pro bono managers networks and how they can bring about increased quantity and scope of pro bono participation. Representatives from pro bono managers networks around the country will discuss the evolution and activities of their networks. Share your questions and ideas for establishing or strengthening a pro bono managers network in your area!
|
|
Providing Disaster Legal Assistance: Lessons Learned This session will examine the application of partnerships formed to provide disaster legal assistance to the legal services delivery system. Panelists will discuss the lessons learned in developing a response to disaster-related legal needs and how those lessons can be carried over to developing a stronger delivery system that encompasses and integrates staffed legal services, pro bono programs, the private bar and other providers.
|
|
Recap on Business Law Pro Bono Issues Join us for this wrap-up session to hear what lessons we have learned and what best practices we can benchmark. Hear in conclusion from Bill Kelly, a volunteer business lawyer, who helped start and chair a business law pro bono program and for his commitment and dedication was recognized by the ABA Business Law Section as the 2000 National Public Service Award recipient for exemplifying a business lawyer working for community change.
|
|
Recruiting and Developing the Elusive Family Law Volunteer Document available: The Impact of Family Law Cases on Pro Bono Programs (ABA Center for Pro Bono report, Dec. 2002) This session is a continuation of the dialogue initiated by the Center for Pro Bono's 2002 report, The Impact of Family Law Cases on Pro Bono Programs, and continued at the 2003 Equal Justice Conference. Panelists will begin this interactive session by discussing innovations aimed at recruiting and retaining family law volunteers. The session will conclude with an interactive exercise to identify successful strategies to recruit and retain family law volunteers.
|
|
Recruiting and Retaining Volunteer Attorneys from Among Solo and Small Firm Practitioners This workshop will address successful approaches in recruiting and retaining volunteer attorneys from among solo and small firms. The panel will present information on reaching solo and small firm attorneys, using technology effectively as a recruitment tool, and identifying and overcoming stumbling blocks. Panelists will also cover how to structure volunteer opportunities to appeal to the interests and concerns of this group, both in terms of the substantive areas of law and in terms of the service delivery model.
|
|
Resources for and Best Practices of Business Law Pro Bono Programs Learn what national resources are available to grow new and existing business pro bono programs. This session will highlight the range of resources, whether it be peer visits, on-line tool box of forms, national community development/non-profit law support site, all are available to assist in the growth and development of your business pro bono program. Panelists of program directors will also discuss how they have used these resources to set "benchmarks" of best practices in their programs.
|
|
Seek and Ye Shall Find: Building Foundations for Your Foundation Proposals Through Good Research Successful fundraising is 90% research and 10% sales. In this session we will learn the best ways to evaluate foundation prospects: uncover a foundation's unarticulated political orientation; decide whether to go for a national or local donor; and learn how to relate to broadly stated goals and specific objectives. Online research will be our focus, but we will briefly discuss how to use the primary print resources.
|
|
Stand Alone Hotlines Never Stand Alone No hotline operates in a vacuum. This presentation will discuss how hotlines without full-service units operate in conjunction with other legal services programs to coordinate efforts and provide the necessary level of services to clients. The workshop will address creating partnerships during the planning and start up phases of new hotline, and how standalone hotlines coordinate outreach efforts, community education and training, technology and resource sharing as well as state planning with other legal services programs.
|
|
Starting Up a Program The different ways new transactional programs have started have been as varied as the programs' clients. For this workshop we have pulled together individuals from programs that have had very different catalysts: in-house counsel, private law firms, bar associations, LSC and ad hoc groups. These panelists will demonstrate how you can start a transactional pro bono program in your community and through their war stories learn how to overcome some of the obstacles to insure your success.
|
|
Taking it to the Streets: Developing a Mobile Law Unit Program This session will feature several innovative programs that utilize technology and community partnerships to expand services to hard-to-reach low-income and senior populations. The session will address issues related to program start-up, staffing, training, technology, outreach, client satisfaction and funding for both urban and rural programs.
|
|
Technology Tips and Tools: 50 Ways To Work Better, Faster And Cheaper
A panel of experts will showcase a variety of ways that technology can help you in your day-to-day work. Presenters will cover software tools, gadgets, web resources, tips and solutions to common problems. Help develop this workshop by sending the panelists information on your own favorite tools and resources, as well as sending them questions about problems, suggestions, tips and solutions. Use the workshop's submission page at http://www.equaljusticeconference.org/tips.html to submit your questions and solutions.
|
|
Using Holistic Strategies to Address Housing Problems Document available: Outline
Document available: Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Housing Court Intervention Project (two page description)
This workshop will explain in nuts-and-bolts fashion holistic models to solve housing problems, such as partnering with housing providers, securing social services, and collaborating with landlord/tenant courts. The panelists will describe how to replicate proven models for partnering in both urban and rural settings as well as discuss creative uses of the Fair Housing Act and the REHABILITATION Act.
|
|
Using Pro Bono to Increase Rural Delivery of Legal Services How can programs involve more volunteer lawyers in the delivery of legal services to rural America? Panelists will explore successful partnerships and delivery initiatives aimed at addressing the legal needs of rural clients and their communities. The workshop will also discuss projects and strategies highlighted in the ABA Center for Pro Bono's 2003 publication Rural Pro Bono Delivery: A Guide to Pro Bono Legal Services in Rural Areas, and discuss findings and strategies developed at a recent conference on rural delivery sponsored by the Legal Services Corporation.
|
|
What Did You Say Your Name Is? Cross-Cultural Lawyering 101 Understanding the various cultures of the clients we serve is critical to providing competent counsel. This interactive presentation will examine cross-cultural lawyering skills from framework to practice. Moving from the broader issues of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, and mental health to the specific example of working with a transgendered client.
|
|
Working Together Against Domestic Violence This session will help you learn how to bring together entities into a model for communication and coordination of services benefiting survivors of domestic violence. You will leave this session knowing how to develop collaboration and coordinated community response strategies within local and statewide communities, how to look for partnering entities, and how to recruit pro bono attorneys and community volunteers to assist in this mission.
|
|
Working with Child Clients
Document available: Outline (brief outlines from presenters with fact pattern and bios )
Document available: Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Children in Custody Cases Handout
Document available: Child Development: Guidelines and Implications for Visitation Handout (3 page outline by Dr. Frances Stott )
Document available: Chart of State Laws on Child Preferences Handout Volunteer and staff attorneys often have a difficult time dealing with the unique needs of child clients. This workshop will give practical tips on interviewing children, assessing and advocating children's wishes, child development, children's interactions with judges, and other relevant topics. These topics will be discussed from three perspectives- a judge, a child psychologist, and a pro bono childrens attorney. There will be a hypothetical private custody case scenario, and attendees will be able to share information from their own experiences and ask questions.
|
|
Please report any problems with this site to
.
|
