DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
District of Columbia Bar Public Service Activities Corp.
1250 H Street, NW, Sixth Floor
Washington DC 20005-3908
(202) 737-4700
Fax (202) 626-3471
e-mail:
Contact person: Maureen Thornton Syracuse
Executive Director
• State Bar Staff
Bar Foundation Staff
Other: __________
State Support Program
• State Support Function
Access to Justice Program
• Statewide Direct Delivery
Independent Program
None of the Above
The Public Service Activities Corporation (PSAC) is the pro bono arm of the unified District of Columbia Bar. PSAC recruits and trains volunteer attorneys and paralegals to handle pro bono matters and matches them with clients either through PSAC's clinics (Law Firm Pro Bono Clinic, Pro Bono Bankruptcy Clinic, Pro-Se-Plus Divorce Clinic and Advice & Referral Clinic), or by referring them to other legal services providers. PSAC provides information to the community through an automated Legal Information Help Line in English and Spanish; undertakes studies and develops recommendations for systemic reforms to increase access to justice; and encourages widespread participation in pro bono activities, through programs such as the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Initiative and the Pro Bono Partnership, a network of law firms with active pro bono programs.
# of Active Lawyers 45,131
# of Lawyers Providing Pro Bono Service Information Not Available
# Pro Bono Programs 3*
Poverty Population 96,278
# of Legal Services Programs 20**
# of IOLTA Funded Programs 17
*several legal services programs (10) have pro bono components
**includes 1 LSC funded, 6 law school clinics, and 12 other programs
1995 Statewide IOLTA Revenue $573,600
Program Budget n/a
Funding n/a
% of Funding paid by the Bar n/a
% of Funding paid by the IOLTA n/a
Other foundations, donations, interest,100%
Training materials sales
Ethical Rules & Bar Resolutions
Policy on pro bono
4
state bar resolutionstate supreme court ethical rule
rule similar to Revised ABA Model Rule 6.1 (includes hours/categories)
4
pre 1993 version of ABA MR 6.1other rule
Reporting of Pro Bono Activity
mandatory (___ under consideration)
voluntary (___ under consideration)
Activities
Communication
4
newslettermedia publicity
Recruitment
mass mailings to new admittees
4
presentations to new admittees4
work with individual law firmsbar event presentations
personal contacts/phone calls
phonathons
bar section or committee presentations/projects
Training
4
sponsor substantive legal training for volunteers4
coordinate training programs for legal services providers4
publish training materialsCoordination
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
outreach to programs
sponsor state pro bono conference
provide technical assistance to:
4 law firms
corporate counsel
4 governmental attorney offices
Recognition
program awards
4
state bar sponsored awardsstate bar foundation sponsored awards
4
personal letters4
magazine/newsletter articleshonor roll
certificates
CLE vouchers/publications
Case Intake & Referral
direct case referrals to volunteers
case referral to pro bono programs
statewide or regional:
centralized intake
hotline
4clinics
Legislative Work
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
4
web site www.dcbar.orgfax referrals
linkage between pro bono programs