CALIFORNIA

State Bar of California

Office of Legal Services

555 Franklin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 561-8213 (Eve) 561-8267 (Sharon)

Fax (415) 561-9952

e-mail: evehersh@ix.netcom.com

scngim@ ix.netcom.com

Contact persons: Eve Hershcopf and Sharon Ngim,

Pro Bono Program Developers

 

• State Bar Staff

Bar Foundation Staff

Independent Program

Other:____________

• State Support Program

State Support Function

• Access to Justice Program

Statewide Direct Delivery

None of the Above

 

In 1978, the State Bar Board of Governors created the Voluntary Legal Services Program to promote private bar involvement in the delivery of legal services to poor people. In 1987, the Office of Legal Services, which includes the Legal Services Trust Fund Program (IOLTA) and the Legal Services Section, reorganized its staff and created the positions of Pro Bono Program Developers. Pro Bono Program Developers provide a broad range of technical assistance to groups such as legal services providers, bar associations, courts and other organizations to expand volunteer legal services for low-income Californians. The Office of Legal Services also staffs the Access to Justice Commission which has an integrated membership from various segments of the community, for example, the Chamber of Commerce, Council of Churches, and League of Women Voters. The Commission has five committees including a Pro Bono Committee which is coordinated by existing staff and volunteers.

 

# of Active Lawyers 120,000

# of Lawyers Providing Pro Bono Service 18,000

# Pro Bono Programs 120

Poverty Population 5 million

# of Legal Services Programs 300

# of IOLTA Funded Programs 115

 

1995 Statewide IOLTA Revenue $7,300,732

Program Budget n/a

Funding n/a

% of Funding paid by the Bar 100%

% of Funding paid by the IOLTA n/a

Other (foundations, filing fees, legal services) n/a

 

Ethical Rules & Bar Resolutions

Policy on pro bono

4 state bar resolution

state supreme court ethical rule

rule similar to Revised ABA MR 6.1 (includes hours and categories)

pre 1993 version of ABA MR 6.1

4 other rule

Reporting of Pro Bono Activity

mandatory (___ under consideration)

voluntary (___ under consideration)

Activities

Communication

4 newsletter

media publicity

Recruitment

4 mass mailings to new admittees

work with individual law firms

bar event presentations

4 personal contacts/phone calls

phonathons

bar section or committee presentations/projects

Training

*4 sponsor substantive legal training for volunteers

coordinate training programs for legal services providers

4 publish training materials

Coordination

4 assist development of local programs

4 coordinate activities with providers (i.e. training, recruitment)

state pro bono coordinator meetings

liaison with state bar foundation

Technical Assistance

4 outreach to programs

4 sponsor state pro bono conference

provide technical assistance to:

law firms

corporate counsel

governmental attorney offices

Recognition

4 program awards

*4 state bar sponsored awards

state bar foundation sponsored awards

personal letters

magazine/newsletter articles

*4 honor roll

*4 certificates

*4 CLE vouchers/publications

Case Intake & Referral

direct case referrals to volunteers

case referral to pro bono programs

statewide or regional:

centralized intake

hotline

clinics

Legislative Work

*4 involved in legislative advocacy

participate in state planning for legal services and pro bono

Staff State Bar or Access to Justice Committee

pro bono ethics rules/resolutions/reporting

delivery of legal services/legal aid

Access to Justice

Other: __________

Technology

web site www.calbar.org*

fax referrals

linkage between pro bono programs

*These activities are administered, produced or performed by the Legal Services Section as well as, or instead of, by the Pro Bono program.