Legal Services
Access to Justice Committee
The Access to Justice Committee endeavors to provide free and low cost legal services and legal education to poor and low income persons in metropolitan Denver. The committee administers, evaluates, and markets programs and recruits volunteer lawyers for: several pro se clinics on various legal topics such as family law and small claims court proceedings; the annual People's Fair event; various "call-a-lawyer" programs offered by TV or radio stations; the senior lawyers call-in program; and other such programs or events as needed. The committee regularly evaluates legal needs of poor and low income persons in the community, and the best ways to meet those needs. The committee works in cooperation with DBA staff, Metro Volunteer Lawyers and its governing board, the Young Lawyers Division, various specialty bars, and Colorado Legal Services/Legal Aid.
DBA Legal Services Committee Update – December, 2004
I. Update on Legal Clinics
Clinics are schedule for 2005, including the Family Law clinic in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development and the Spanish Family Law Clinic, both of which are held at the Denver Department of Human Services building. Clinic instructors had an informal volunteer instructor meeting on January 11 to discuss the upcoming year.
II. Subcommittee reports
§ Immigration- This clinic series is under development and will be hosted at Centro de San Juan Diego at 28th and Lawrence. Diego Hunt, an attorney, is also working with Sister Alicia at Centro de San Juan Diego to set up a program similar to Legal Night at Centro Bienestar. David Simmons, an LSC member, is meeting with these Diego’s group who has expressed interest in helping us with translators, volunteer instructors and the development of outline materials and resources.
§ Pro Bono/Legal Services Training- The Pro Bono Attorney Training/CLE is scheduled for Tuesday March 8, 2005 from 8:15 until 3:00 p.m. The agenda is being finalized and includes brief intros to Family Law, Landlord/Tenant Law, Bankruptcy, Public Benefits, Resources available to pro bono attorneys, Lunch in conjunction with Tuesday at the Bar meeting re: Rule 16.2, and a Roundtable discussion.
§ Senior Forums –A 6 month series of clinics that deal with specific senior subjects over a 1 hour period of time is being discussed. Jon Nicholls is working with Jacquie Miller from the CSU Extension Center which is seeking to develop some programs for elders. Other CBA committees – either Availability of Legal Services or Elder Law – may need to be involved.
III. Miscellaneous
Volunteer Recognition – Although we held a LSC volunteer recognition party last year around this time, April is National Volunteer Recognition month and the Public Legal Education Department is planning an event that will include all volunteers for Public Legal Education.
Docket Column – The LSC is working with Diane Hartman figure out potential ways to improve publicity regarding pro bono endeavors and pro bono attorney features.
Update of Legal Services Directory – We will begin the process to update the Legal Services Directory.
