MONTANA

Pro Bono Project

State Bar of Montana

2442 First Avenue

PO Box 3093

Billings, MT 59101

(406) 252-6351

Fax (406) 252-6055

Contact person: Judy A. Williams

Pro Bono 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 Montana Pro Bono Project is a statewide support program. It assists local bar associations and direct delivery pro bono programs with their pro bono efforts, including volunteer lawyer recruitment, training and retention; program design and structure; and drafting and/or compiling substantive law manuals on poverty law subjects. The director staffs the State Bar of Montana Access to Justice Committee and is liaison on pro bono issues to other state bar committees and sections, the University of Montana School of Law, Montana Legal Services Association, and law-related professional organizations. The Project is funded by an IOLTA grant to the State Bar of Montana.

 

# of Active Lawyers 2,400

# of Lawyers Providing Pro Bono Service 350

# Pro Bono Programs 10

Poverty Population 170,000+

# of Legal Services Programs 1

# of IOLTA Funded Programs 3

 

1995 Statewide IOLTA Revenue $98,858

Program Budget $58,000

Funding n/a

% of Funding paid by the Bar n/a

% of Funding paid by the IOLTA 100%

Other (foundations, filing fees, legal services)

 

Ethical Rules & Bar Resolutions

Policy on pro bono

4 state bar resolution

state supreme court ethical rule

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

pre 1993 version of ABA MR 6.1

other rule

Reporting of Pro Bono Activity

mandatory (___ under consideration)

voluntary (_4 under consideration)

Activities

Communication

4 newsletter

media publicity

Recruitment

mass mailings to new admittees

targeted mailings

4 work with individual law firms

4 bar event presentations

4 personal contacts/phone calls

phonathons

4 bar section or committee presentations/projects

Training

4 sponsor substantive legal training for volunteers

4 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 coordinators meeting

4 liaison with state bar foundation

Technical Assistance

4 outreach to programs

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

certificates

CLE vouchers/publications

Case Intake & Referral

4 direct case referrals to volunteers (limited)

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

4 pro bono ethics rules/resolutions/reporting

delivery of legal services/legal aid

4 Access to Justice Committee

Other ____________

Technology

web site (address ____________)

fax referrals

linkage between pro bono programs