Long Range Plan (Part 3)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| I. OVERVIEW |
| A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT |
| B. ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT |
| II. SERVICE TO THE BAR |
| A. WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN THE PROFESSION |
| B. PRACTICE AND THE PROFESSION |
| C. PUBLICITY |
| D. PUBLICATIONS |
| E. ADMISSION AND ORIENTATION |
| F. ANNUAL MEETING |
| G. NATIONAL TRIAL ADVOCACY |
| III. SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC |
| A. ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES |
| B. EMERGENCY LEGAL SERVICES |
| C. NO BILLS NIGHT |
| D. PRO BONO |
| E. CHILDREN AND THE LAW |
| F. PUBLIC EDUCATION |
| G. COMMUNITY LAW WEEK |
| H. COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| IV. INTERNAL OPERATING COMMITTEES |
| A. NOMINATING COMMITTEE |
| B. CIRCUIT REPRESENTATIVES |
| C. LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE |
| D. BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE |
| E. MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT |
| F. AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT |
| V. CONCLUSION |
III. SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC
The rising cost of legal services makes it increasingly difcult for many individuals to obtain legal services. Groups such as the elderly, the disabled, and the "working poor" often nd necessary legal services unavailable or unobtainable. Legal Aid organizations and lawyers' pro bono efforts are neither designed nor able to meet the legal needs of much of the public.
The YLC has established the Access to Legal Services Committee. The Committee's purpose is to assist the public and specically, certain sectors of the public, to improve their ability to obtain legal services. This Committee is divided into subcommittees: Legal Services Directory, Emergency Legal Services, No Bills Night and Pro Bono Services. The Legal Services Directory subcommittee will become part of the Publications Committee. Although the No Bills Night subcommittee is chaired by a statewide coordinator, regional chairs have been appointed to help coordinate No Bills Night and related programs throughout Virginia.
1. To provide free legal information and services to a greater number of citizens in Virginia, particularly those who might not qualify for Legal Aid but who otherwise cannot afford legal counsel.
2. To oversee the subcommittees that provide access to legal services to the public, including the implementation of programs to educate the public about the law, the legal system, and our system of government.
3. To develop model programs to increase the availability of legal services to the public in general, and in particular to certain special needs groups such as the disabled, the elderly, and the homeless.
4. To stimulate and develop local young lawyer participation and sponsorship of public service activities.
5. To promote improvements in the criminal justice system and assistance to crime victims.
6. To provide legal advice and assistance to victims of natural disasters.
7. To encourage law rms and non-law related organizations to support pro bono legal services and public service projects.
8. To continue to use favorably the appointment of the President-Elect to the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia.
1. The Chair of this committee should coordinate the various subcommittees and their efforts to ensure that the goals and objectives are being met.
2. The Chair should also develop and coordinate any other programs under this category that do not fall under the aegis of the subcommittees, notably programs designed to improve access to legal services.
3. The Chair should continue to serve as liaison between the Board and the subcommittees.
4. The Chair should consider ways to expand and dene the scope of the Chair's role.
The Emergency Legal Services Committee is a subcommittee of the Access to Legal Services Committee. This Committee, in conjunction with the Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, has developed a plan to provide no-cost legal services, on short notice, to victims of natural disasters and other declared emergencies. The Emergency Legal Services Response Plan became effective in June 1995 and contemplates that the young lawyer organizations of the Bar and the Virginia Bar Association ("VBA") will recruit and train attorneys to provide legal advice where there has been a federally declared disaster, an emergency declared by the Governor or an emergency declared by the presidents of the Bar and the VBA. The plan was rst implemented in the summer of 1995 in response to the ooding in central and southwestern Virginia, which were declared federal disaster areas. The joint efforts of both bar organizations, along with numerous volunteers, enabled the plan to work extremely well. The experience of the 1995 oods illustrated, however, the need to rene the Emergency Legal Services Response Plan, to have a more comprehensive network of local liaisons ready to respond to a declared emergency, and to develop further relationships with public and private relief agencies that can help to publicize the no-cost legal services offered under the plan.
1. The Committee shall, in conjunction with its counterpart in the VBA Young Lawyers Division, study the effectiveness of the Emergency Legal Services Response Plan in responding to the 1995 oods, and determine what, if any, improvements or changes should be made to permit the bar organizations to respond to declared emergencies more efciently and effectively.
2. The Committee shall complete its network of local liaisons who are trained in providing emergency legal services, and who can recruit volunteer attorneys to be trained to respond on short notice when called upon to do so.
3. The Committee shall develop and maintain close relationships with federal, state and private relief agencies who will assist the bar organizations as needed when called upon to do so.
This Committee, together with the VBA YLD, has developed an Emergency Legal Services Response Plan that has become a model for lawyers responding to natural disasters and other declared emergencies. The 1995 oods gave the bar organizations an excellent opportunity to test the plan and to provide valuable legal services to those persons affected by the ooding. It will be important for the Committee to cooperate closely with the VBA YLD committee to determine those areas in the plan that need improvement, that did not respond as efciently as necessary, or that were completely non-responsive. The Committee should also attempt to establish a timetable for accomplishing tasks once a disaster occurs.
It is critical for the Committee to complete its statewide list of liaisons who can, on short notice, gather volunteers to provide emergency legal services to those in affected areas. The ultimate success of the plan will depend upon the ability to contact local lawyers with a request to provide emergency legal services. A coordinated liaison network is critical to the accomplishment of this task.
The Committee also must continue to develop and maintain its relationships with federal, state and private relief agencies that assist victims. These agencies provide instant access to those persons who may need legal services in the event of a disaster. A well-established relationship with these agencies will permit both the bar organizations and the relief agencies to respond to victims better.
To provide a forum for the public throughout Virginia to raise legal issues and to seek guidance regarding their legal rights, the YLC conducts two annual No Bills Nights throughout Virginia. Volunteer young lawyers staff telephones and eld calls from people interested in discussing legal issues. The volunteers do not give legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. The volunteers do give callers general guidance on their legal rights and responsibilities and may refer callers to the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service, to local bar associations, or to legal aid societies.
The No Bills Night programs represent one of the YLC's most successful efforts in assisting the public, and also heightening the image of lawyers and the profession. Although local programs have different formats, the general premise is the same: young lawyers serve as volunteers to assist the public with their legal problems. No Bills Night is usually performed on a call-in basis or a walk up arrangement such as an "ask a lawyer" booth. No Bills Night is typically conducted during the Fall and again in the Spring in conjunction with Community Law week.
1. To continue to organize and administer effective, well-publicized No Bills Night programs twice a year.
2. To train volunteer lawyers and to update as necessary any resource materials on which they rely.
3. To coordinate with and to share among geographic regions information regarding the programs, as a means to improve the o verall effectiveness of the programs.
4. To develop increased participation by both lawyers and the public in No Bills Night programs.
5. To utilize the Bar's Publications Department to maximize the publicity generated both before and after No Bills Night programs.
1. The Committee will organize and administer effective, well-publicized No Bills Night programs twice a year.
2. The Committee will train volunteer lawyers and update as necessary any resource materials on which they rely.
3. The Committee will coordinate with and to share among geographic regions information regarding the programs, as a means to improve the overall effectiveness of the programs.
4. The Committee will develop increased participation by both lawyers and the public in No Bills Night programs.
5. The Committee will utilize the Bar's Publications Department to maximize the publicity generated both before and after No Bills Night programs.
The Pro Bono Subcommittee was established to encourage young lawyers to provide free legal assistance to those who are unable to afford to hire a lawyer. It also is responsible for improving the quality of pro bono activities performed by young lawyers.
This subcommittee is headed by a chair, and recent efforts have been made to appoint regional coordinators to assist in the localities.
1. To assist and encourage young lawyers to provide free legal assistance to those who are unable to afford to hire a lawyer.
2. To develop model programs to increase the availability of legal services to those who are unable to afford to hire a lawyer.
3. To encourage law rms or other employees of lawyers to support pro bono legal services.
1. The Subcommittee Chair, in conjunction with the Board liaison, shall appoint regional coordinators to serve on the Pro Bono Subcommittee and to assist the Subcommittee chair.
2. The Subcommittee shall develop a plan for use on a statewide level to inform young lawyers of the need for, and to encourage participation in, pro bono legal services.
3. The Subcommittee shall develop a model program or programs to be implemented on a local level to increase the availability of legal services to those who are unable to afford to hire a lawyer.
4. The Subcommittee shall develop a model program or programs to improve the quantity and quality of pro bono activities of young lawyers, including providing training to young lawyers in substantive legal areas that present the greatest need for pro bono legal services.
5. The Subcommittee shall coordinate its efforts with the Bar Pro Bono Coordinator and the Bar's Pro Bono Initiative to ensure that its efforts as a whole are consistent with the Bar's efforts in this regard.
6. The Subcommittee shall coordinate its efforts with other statewide, local and specialty bars to ensure its efforts do not overlap or conict with other pro bono efforts in the state.
This committee is new and has a specic emphasis on children. It is charged with developing new projects designed to meet the legal needs of children. It is also responsible for educating children about their legal rights and legal responsibilities and for training lawyers in the representation of children. It includes a students' day in court subcommittee, which existed for many years as the "docent" program. The subcommittee coordinates efforts in the localities for involving children in the court system, ranging from coordinating tours of courthouses and days in court for school children, to more comprehensive programs that involve visits to the school by lawyers.
The subcommittee's success depends upon the participation and action in the various localities, as well as the cooperation of the courts and staff in helping to coordinate various programs. It also presumes that the schools will assist with these efforts.
The circuit representative has in most instances taken the responsibility for establishing a students' day in court program in the locality. Some jurisdictions have been operating very successful programs for several years, while in other areas, no program exists at all. Establishing viable long term local programs depends upon the assistance and coordination of efforts with other organizations, such as the local bar association, or other interested groups, such as the PTA or local Lawyers Auxiliary. The maintenance of a successful program requires that efforts be perpetual: even the most successful program will not exist during the following school year if efforts are not replicated. If the circuit representative is charged with the responsibility of focusing on a students' day in court program each year, inevitably other programs will not be implemented or will not be given the appropriate attention. Accordingly, there is a heightened need for greater young lawyer participation.
1. The Committee should continue to develop and expand the students' day in court program to include new projects to help meet the legal needs of children. Programs like the child witness waiting rooms in the appropriate courts are an excellent example of such programs.
2. The Committee should sponsor programs to recently qualied guardians ad litem, with the objective of training lawyers in the representation of children. This goal, however, should not preclude various localities from sponsoring their own CLEs in this area if they are not presently being met.
3. The Committee should encourage young lawyers to participate in its programs and activities.
The students' day in court program represents an important goal in beneting the public. It serves the important goal of acquainting the children with the judicial system and the legal profession. The YLC's goal should be to assist with the initiation of as many programs in as many areas as possible, moreover, the YLC should maintain information to help localities adopt or improve such programs. This information should be freely disseminated. More importantly, the circuit representative or other young lawyers should take steps to coordinate this program with other organizations with the idea of ultimately turning all responsibility for the programs over to the other organization to conduct it on a full time basis. Finally, the committee should work to develop or sponsor a program that can be distributed statewide to recertify guardians ad litem.
Although this Committee is designed to develop model programs to enhance the public's knowledge of the legal system and of the law, the Committee has not been very active. The Committee's stated purpose assumes responsibilities that are better addressed by the Board or by other committees. Specically, this Committee's goals overlap considerably with the goals of the Community Law Week Committee.
This Committee is made up of a Committee Chair, a Vice Chair and several Committee members.
The Public Education Committee can become an active Committee within the YLC, but restructuring is necessary. In particular, its focus should be expanded to educating the public throughout the year, and not only during Community Law Week. The Community Law Week Committee's objectives mirror the goals of the Public Education Committee, but its efforts are focused on one week during the year. At present, the Public Education and the Community Law Week Committees are essentially competing with each other for program ideas, resources and volunteers, when instead they should be cooperating with each other. The consolidation of these two committees would strengthen the efforts of both.
Therefore, it is recommended that the Public Education Committee continue to exist as a YLC committee, with Chair who will oversee the Committee. The Community Law Week Committee will become a Subcommittee of the Public Education Committee. A Vice-Chair of the Public Education Committee would be principally involved with coordinating the Community Law Week programs. A more detailed discussion of the Community Law Week is included under a separate heading, as it remains a separate and distinct Committee. The reader is directed to that section for a more detailed discussion of the Community Law Week Committee.
In addition, it is recommended that the Community Outreach Committee be placed under the auspices of the Public Education Committee. Many of the present Community Outreach programs, such as Christmas in April and the Toys for Tots campaign, are noteworthy endeavors. However, notwithstanding their obvious public benet, many of these activities fall beyond the scope of the Bar's mission. It is recommended that focus in this area be more closely tailored to programs designed to acquaint and educate the public with the legal system. Creation of programs, such as a Speakers' Bureau and a Mall Walkers Program, are examples of programs that should be considered and adopted in the future, but should be coordinated by the Public Education Committee rather than the Community Outreach Committee. The Community Outreach Committee should be disbanded.
For further discussion of the Community Outreach Committee as it currently exists, the reader is directed to the separate discussion of that Committee.
Community Law Week occurs during the rst week of May each year. Historically, this week has been designed both to celebrate the profession, and to promote and implement programs that benet the public and the profession. Many programs are conducted on the local level, such as school visits, public celebrations, arrangement of speakers, and other activities conducted in conjunction with other groups or organizations.
Traditionally, the YLC Committee on Community Law Week has been active in coordinating efforts to promote Community Law Week activities. During the past year, Regional Directors were appointed to help facilitate and coordinate programs on the local level.
1. To continue to facilitate programs on a local level that promote Community Law Week.
2. To continue to increase the participation of young lawyers working on the local level with Community Law Week projects.
3. To provide sufcient resources to help the localities put on effective Community Law Week programs. Resources may be nancial, if possible, but also should include informational resources, such as model programs and other appropriate ames of reference to help improve local programs.
4. To encourage coordination of efforts with other organizations, such as local or specialty bar associations or the Bar Conference of Local Bar Associations, to maximize utilization of resources and avoid replication of efforts.
It is recommended that the Community Law Week program be restructured to become a Subcommittee of the Public Education Committee. The consolidation of these two Committees under one heading with virtually dentical goals and objectives will strengthen both programs. Because the Community Law Week Subcommittee will become such a large component of the Public Education Committee, a Vice Chair of the Public Education Committee will be charged with the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating the Community Law Week activities. The Vice Chair of the Community Law Week Subcommittee will be responsible for coordinating and assisting in the development and implementation of programs in the various localities. The Vice Chair will assist Regional Coordinators in developing summaries of the various projects that would be available for dissemination throughout Virginia. Summary statements should include a synopsis of any activities, as well as the general framework for conducting the program. This information also should include any insight as to any drawbacks regarding the projects, as well as any positive features of the program. This will help create a history that will better enable subsequent programs to be improved and minimize "re-invention of the wheel". Especially successful model programs or ideas for model programs, including the summary statements, should be forwarded to the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair for future use. The Vice Chair will work with the Chair of the Public Education Committee to coordinate their efforts where feasible.
The purpose of this Committee is to promote YLC projects designed to benet the public, such as Christmas in April, Toys for Tots campaign, and work at a homeless shelter. It is also contemplated that this Committee includes outreach to the community that deals more directly with the legal profession. Specically, this includes programs designed to acquaint the public with the legal system, access to available services, and other activities that are specically linked to the profession. Examples of these include publication and distribution of the Senior Citizens Handbook, creation of the Speakers Bureau, and the Mall Walkers Program. The benet to the public of these types of programs is self-evident.
This Committee is headed by a Committee Chair. In practice, many of these programs exist in conjunction with other YLC committees or other organizations, such as those sponsored by local bar associations.
It is recommended that this Committee be disbanded. Endeavors such as Christmas in April are probably beyond the scope of the Bar's mission. Local and other voluntary bar associations should be entrusted with facilitation and implementation of such charitable programs. This should not be construed as an attempt by the YLC to dissuade its membership from participating in any of these endeavors. Programs such as the Mall Walkers Program and Speakers Bureau will continue to be developed under the aegis of the Public Education Committee.