Charles:Stephanie's transfer folder:work plan:work plan.htm

ACCESS TO JUSTICE
STATE BAR OF TEXAS WORK PLAN
April 2000

Prepared by: Texas Lawyers, Care Public Services Division, J. Oliver

I. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FOR CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR

Specific data documenting the unmet legal needs of the poor in Texas is currently being developed. Even without that specific data, it is generally agreed that additional funding is needed to provide the legal services staff and pro bono support necessary to provide the poor with minimum access to justice.

Authorization:

SBOT Report to the Supreme Court, 1/27/00
Response to Supreme Court hearing

A. Legislation

Action:

Following the SBOT legislative policy and timeline, the Board Legal Services Committee (BLSC) and Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee (LSPCMC) will develop proposed legislation to generate funding for civil legal services to the poor. The SBOT Board will consider the proposals for presentation to the Texas legislature in 2001.

Decision Date:

September 2000 board meeting

Implementation:

SBOT leadership and staff will shepherd the legislation through the process.

B. 2001 Dues Statement Voluntary Contribution Enhancement

Action:

The LSPCMC will review the voluntary contribution portion of the dues statement to identify strategies for enhancing revenues generated. The BLSC and SBOT Board will consider recommendations for presentation to Supreme Court.

Decision Date:

November 15, 2000

Implementation:

Upon approval by the Supreme Court, SBOT staff will implement.

C. Other Revenue Enhancement Initiatives

Action:

Using the recommendations developed by Richard Pena's Resource Development Work Group, the Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee will make recommendations to the State Bar Board on other resource development initiatives that can be undertaken by the SBOT.

Decision Date:

September 2000 board meeting

Implementation:

SBOT leadership, board committee, standing committee, and staff will
implement.

D. Technology

Action:

A subcommittee to the Technology Vision Group will be appointed to specifically address how to improve access to justice through use of technology. The subcommittee will work with the technology committee of the state planning process to develop basic standards and plans for meeting those standards statewide and to develop other initiatives that will improve access through use of technology. The subcommittee will work with leadership to secure funding.

Target Date:

September 2000 board meeting (plan)

Implementation:

Technology Vision Group Legal Services Sub-committee, in conjunction with the State Planning Process Technology Committee

II. ENHANCEMENT OF PRIVATE BAR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROVISION OF CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR

A. Implementation of State Bar Pro Bono Marketing Plan

Authorization:

State Bar Pro Bono Marketing Plan, adopted June 1999

Action 1:

The State Bar will sponsor poverty law trainings around the state to recruit pro bono attorneys for local pro bono programs.

Target date:

Spring, summer 2000

Implementation:

Funding has been secured from the State Bar College to support two or three rural based seminars. Texas Lawyers Care staff is working with local providers to plan seminars in Hunt County, Walker County, and the Valley.

Action 2:

The State Bar will conduct a pro bono awareness campaign, which involves focus groups, print media ads, press releases, recruitment at bar sponsored events, etc.

Target date:

ongoing

Implementation:

State Bar staff (Texas Lawyers Care, Research and Analysis, Texas Bar Journal, Communications Department, PDP, etc.) is at work on this initiative.

Action 3:

The State Bar will encourage local bar associations to establish "Access to Justice" committees and will provide assistance and support to the established committees. A special track for local bar access to justice committees will be developed for the local bar leaders conference.

Target date:

ongoing, July 2000 (Local Bar Leaders Conference)

Implementation:

State Bar staff and leadership will communicate regularly with local bar leaders and committee chairs. The LSPCMC and staff will work with the Local Bar Committee and staff on developing programming for local bar access to justice committees at the Local Bar Leaders Conference in July.

B. Reduced Fee Services Plan

Authorization:

State Bar Report to Supreme Court

Action:

The State Bar will develop and operate a program for referral of lower income clients to private attorneys who have agreed to accept cases on a significantly reduced fee basis.

Decision date:

Proposal for State Bar Board at January 2001 meeting

Implementation:

The State Bar Lawyer Referral Service Committee, with input from the Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee, will develop a proposal for a reduced fee referral project to be operated as part of the Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

C. Supreme Court Law Firm Pro Bono Summit

Authorization:

State Bar Report to Supreme Court

Action:

The Supreme Court has asked the State Bar staff to assist it in planning one or two law firm pro bono summits where they can enlist greater involvement of the state's large law firms and corporate law departments in pro bono and financial support of legal services to the poor.

Target date:

Fall 2000

Implementation:

Texas Lawyers Care and other State Bar staff will provide the support needed by the Supreme Court.

III. DOCUMENTING SUCCESS OF STATE BAR OF TEXAS MEMBER AND LEADERSHIP ACCESS TO JUSTICE EFFORTS

Authorization:

State Bar Report to Supreme Court

A. Improve Pro Bono Participation Data

Action:

The State Bar will conduct a statistically valid survey of Texas attorneys to secure more reliable data on actual pro bono participation

Target date:

September 2000

Implementation:

State Bar leadership will identify or procure funds for the survey and staff will develop the survey instrument, conduct the survey, and analyze the resulting data.

B. Review Format and Substance of Annual Reporting Form

Action:

The State Bar will reevaluate various aspects of the annual reporting form to determine what, if any, changes would facilitate and enhance participation, enhance its value in encouraging pro bono services, and improve its usefulness in measuring success.

Target Date:

November 15, 2000

Implementation:

The LSPCMC and BLSC will review the reporting process and form, in light of Supreme Court input and recent experiences with the process, and will recommend changes to the SBOT Board at the September 2000 board meeting. Recommended changes will be immediately presented to the Court for its approval.

C. Develop Approach to Measuring Effectiveness of Legal Services Efforts

Action:

The State Bar will identify key indicators that can be reasonably and reliably obtained and that will be useful as performance measures of the efforts of the State Bar and others in the delivery of legal services to the poor in Texas and will develop and implement a system for collecting and analyzing the necessary information.

Target Date:

January 2001

Implementation:

Board Legal Services Committee, Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Committee, and staff

IV. Actively Participate in State Planning

Authorization:

State Bar Report to Supreme Court

Action:

The Board Legal Services Committee will represent the State Bar leadership in the access to justice state planning process.

Action Date:

May 3-4, 2000 and beyond Implementation: Board Legal Services Committee

Action:	Following the SBOT legislative policy and timeline, the Board Legal Services Committee (BLSC) and Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee (LSPCMC) will develop proposed legislation to generate funding for civil legal services to the poor. The SBOT Board will consider the proposals for presentation to the Texas legislature in 2001.
Decision Date:	September 2000 board meeting
Implementation:	SBOT leadership and staff will shepherd the legislation through the process.

Action:	The LSPCMC will review the voluntary contribution portion of the dues statement to identify strategies for enhancing revenues generated. The BLSC and SBOT Board will consider recommendations for presentation to Supreme Court.
Decision Date:	November 15, 2000
Implementation:	Upon approval by the Supreme Court, SBOT staff will implement.

Action:	Using the recommendations developed by Richard Pena's Resource Development Work Group, the Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee will make recommendations to the State Bar Board on other resource development initiatives that can be undertaken by the SBOT.
Decision Date:	September 2000 board meeting
Implementation:	SBOT leadership, board committee, standing committee, and staff will implement.

Action:	A subcommittee to the Technology Vision Group will be appointed to specifically address how to improve access to justice through use of technology. The subcommittee will work with the technology committee of the state planning process to develop basic standards and plans for meeting those standards statewide and to develop other initiatives that will improve access through use of technology. The subcommittee will work with leadership to secure funding.
Target Date:	September 2000 board meeting (plan)
Implementation:	Technology Vision Group Legal Services Sub-committee, in conjunction with the State Planning Process Technology Committee

Authorization:	State Bar Pro Bono Marketing Plan, adopted June 1999
Action 1:	The State Bar will sponsor poverty law trainings around the state to recruit pro bono attorneys for local pro bono programs.
Target date:	Spring, summer 2000
Implementation:	Funding has been secured from the State Bar College to support two or three rural based seminars. Texas Lawyers Care staff is working with local providers to plan seminars in Hunt County, Walker County, and the Valley.
Action 2:	The State Bar will conduct a pro bono awareness campaign, which involves focus groups, print media ads, press releases, recruitment at bar sponsored events, etc.
Target date:	ongoing
Implementation:	State Bar staff (Texas Lawyers Care, Research and Analysis, Texas Bar Journal, Communications Department, PDP, etc.) is at work on this initiative.
Action 3:	The State Bar will encourage local bar associations to establish "Access to Justice" committees and will provide assistance and support to the established committees. A special track for local bar access to justice committees will be developed for the local bar leaders conference.
Target date:	ongoing, July 2000 (Local Bar Leaders Conference)
Implementation:	State Bar staff and leadership will communicate regularly with local bar leaders and committee chairs. The LSPCMC and staff will work with the Local Bar Committee and staff on developing programming for local bar access to justice committees at the Local Bar Leaders Conference in July.

Authorization:	State Bar Report to Supreme Court
Action:	The State Bar will develop and operate a program for referral of lower income clients to private attorneys who have agreed to accept cases on a significantly reduced fee basis.
Decision date:	Proposal for State Bar Board at January 2001 meeting
Implementation:	The State Bar Lawyer Referral Service Committee, with input from the Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee, will develop a proposal for a reduced fee referral project to be operated as part of the Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

Action:	The State Bar will conduct a statistically valid survey of Texas attorneys to secure more reliable data on actual pro bono participation
Target date:	September 2000
Implementation:	State Bar leadership will identify or procure funds for the survey and staff will develop the survey instrument, conduct the survey, and analyze the resulting data.

Action:	The State Bar will reevaluate various aspects of the annual reporting form to determine what, if any, changes would facilitate and enhance participation, enhance its value in encouraging pro bono services, and improve its usefulness in measuring success.
Target Date:	November 15, 2000
Implementation:	The LSPCMC and BLSC will review the reporting process and form, in light of Supreme Court input and recent experiences with the process, and will recommend changes to the SBOT Board at the September 2000 board meeting. Recommended changes will be immediately presented to the Court for its approval.

Action:	The State Bar will identify key indicators that can be reasonably and reliably obtained and that will be useful as performance measures of the efforts of the State Bar and others in the delivery of legal services to the poor in Texas and will develop and implement a system for collecting and analyzing the necessary information.
Target Date:	January 2001
Implementation:	Board Legal Services Committee, Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Committee, and staff