+ Eliminating Bias in the Justice System A CALL TO ACTION & SERVICE Access to Justice & Bar Leaders Conference 2011 ORIENTATION

+ The Event Each year, those who are engaged in and support civil equal justice for our state’s poorest and most disadvantaged communities gather at the Annual Access to Justice Conference to learn, build community, tackle difficult problems and renew their commitment to equal justice for all. Each year at the Bar Leaders Conference, past, current, and future bar leaders and members network and meet to discuss emerging trends and best practices. Of importance are the efforts to promote diversity amongst bar leadership and bar programs, and usher in the next generation of leaders.

+ The Joint Conference Legal aid’s “Annual Meeting” Facilitated by the Access to Justice Board & Conference Planning Committee Plenary Session moderated by Judge Steven González, Chair of Access to Justice Board Roundtable Discussion with Washington State Supreme Court and WSBA Board of Governors Keynote by Luis Fraga, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement at The University of Washington

+ Access to Justice Conference Networking & Learning Must Do of the Conference? Sunday plenary- Navigating the Bias Minefield: Framework and Tools LAW Fund President’s Party- tonight at 8! Why are we here?

+ Bar Leaders Conference Networking Meet new colleagues. Meet the Bar leadership. Meet other Bar leaders. Hear more about the Efforts of the Governors Celebrate LAW Fund President’s Party Lunch Receptions Logistics of “two tracks”

Poverty Rates in Washington According the to the 2010 US Census 27% of Washington residents live at 200% below the federal poverty level $22,350 for a family of 4

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+ What is Legal Aid? Domestic Violence Victims Predatory Lending Wrongful Evictions Unsafe Living Conditions Class Action Lawsuits Immigrant Rights Farmworker Justice At-Risk Youth Wage Theft Rights Violations Securing Survival Benefits

+ Civil Legal Aid Makes the Difference: HomelessnessShelter Abuse Safety Hunger Food on the Table Loss of Livelihood Economic Stability

+ BUT: Washington has a Justice Gap Three out of four low-income people face at least one urgent legal problem each year. Only one in five low-income people with serious legal problems will be helped.

+ Increased Need Decreased Resources Requests for legal assistance have skyrocketed since 2009: Unemployment Benefits 1458% Bankruptcy 248% Disability Lifeline 608% Food Stamps 1483% Federal Disability Benefits 310% Domestic Violence Advocacy 191% While Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts 75%

+ Legal Foundation of Washington IOLTA Revenue

+ In , ,000 + = 300, ,000

+ Washington's network of civil legal aid providers and supporters.

+ Alliance Members/Providers Volunteer Lawyer Programs (more than 20) Center for Justice Columbia Legal Services Law school clinics Legal Action Center Northwest Justice Project Northwest Health Law Advocates Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Open Door Legal Services TeamChild Unemployment Law Project Seattle Community Law Center Solid Ground

+ Alliance Supporters Access to Justice Board Campaign for Equal Justice Equal Justice Coalition Justice in Jeopardy Initiative Legal Foundation of Washington Legal Services Corporation Office of Civil Legal Aid Washington State Bar Association Washington Association of County Law Libraries Washington Law Schools Washington State Bar Association Washington Supreme Court & Judiciary

+ Why so many Organizations???? Adaptation: The process whereby a population becomes better suited to its habitat. This process takes place over many generations. It works: We don’t want anyone to slip through the cracks

Washington State Supreme Court Washington State Bar Association Northwest Justice Project Hub of Legal Aid System: 17 offices, CLEAR legal aid hotline, washingtonlawhelp.org IOLTA Legal Foundation of Washington $ Access to Justice Board Equal Justice Coalition Charitable Campaign for Equal Justice/Endowme nt for Equal Justice and other efforts $ Volunteer Lawyer Programs More than 70,000 Families and Individuals Struggling to Survive Poverty While Facing Urgent Legal Problems Specialty Legal Aid Programs State Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) $ Federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC) $ Funding Partners: local government, special purpose grants, community action programs, etc. to individual legal aid programs $

+ Funding for Legal Aid in Washington

+ How can I help? Learn More: allianceforequaljustice.org Volunteer and Get Involved: wsba.org/atj & advocateresourcecenter.org Advocate for Equal Justice: ejc.org Donate! Campaign for Equal Justice: c4ej.org

+ What about the Bar & ATJ? Recognizing that access to the civil justice system is a fundamental right, the Access to Justice Board works to achieve equal access for those facing economic and other significant barriers to the justice system. The Access to Justice (ATJ) Board was established by the Washington State Supreme Court in 1994 at the request of the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors in response to a growing need to coordinate the access to justice efforts in Washington State to provide continuity and focus.

+ About WSBA Washington State Bar Association has 27,846 active members, 55% of which are categorized as: 1,151 that are involved 7,607 that are section members 6,644 who are “young” lawyers

+ About WSBA & Diversity WSBA and its leader are committed to the value of diversity and from this conference a formal Call To Action will be created. The latter will focus on: Education Public Dialogue Leadership Resources Communication & Mindfulness

+ Becoming a Bar “leader” Each member is a bar leader. Leadership can take up many forms and starts with: INVOLVEMENT And an appreciation of the Bar’s goals of: enhancing culture of service, strategic business of law practice & positive management of the stress of law practice.

+ Opportunity, Service & Involvement Each member of WSBA can join any of the following: Standing committees Regulatory Boards Councils Panels Sections Task Forces

+ Questions? To find out how to get involved in WSBA, visit: For links to more resources, like the Civil Legal Needs Study, the State Plan for Legal Aid Delivery, and lots more…

+ Contact Us (BLC) Ciarelle “CJ” Valdez: BLC Committee Chair| Stephen Crossland: WSBA BOG President Elect| Paula Littlewood: WSBA Executive Director|

+ Contact Us (ATJ) Amy Spencer: Campaign for Equal Justice| | Threesa Milligan: King County Bar Pro Bono Services| | Kellee Spangenberg: Spokane County Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program| |