Managing in Hard Times: Lessons from Legal Aid & the Public Sector Law Librarians of Puget Sound: 29 April 2009 Michele Storms, Executive Director Gates Public Service Law Program University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA

2003 Civil Legal Needs Study in Washington State 3 out of 4 low income people face at least one critical civil legal problem each year.

The Alliance for Equal Justice The Alliance for Equal Justice of Washington state is a network of organizations providing civil legal aid to those with nowhere else to turn. Formed to coordinate and foster collaboration, the Alliance provides critically needed services-information, advice and representation-to those in need.

The Alliance for Equal Justice More than 30 legal aid providers make up the Alliance: Statewide and Specialty Programs provide civil legal aid services from staffed offices throughout the state, to specific low-income populations or for specific legal problems Statewide and Specialty Programs Volunteer attorney programs coordinate and leverage free legal aid services provided by pro-bono attorneys Volunteer attorney programs

2009 US Federal Poverty Guidelines Persons in Household Income Limit 100% FPL Income Limit 125% FPL 2$14,570$18,212 3$18,310$22,887 4$22,050$27,562 5$25,790$32,237

LESSONS LEARNED CHANGE IS A CONSTANT OUR SYSTEM MUST BE DRIVEN BY OUR SHARED VALUES

The Hallmarks of an Effective State-wide Civil Legal Services Delivery System Poverty should not be an impediment to Justice. Those in poverty have an equal right to justice regardless of who they are, where they live, or the language they speak. The right to justice must remain constant regardless of changing social, political, economic or other conditions in the country, state and communities where low income people live.

The Coordination Challenge: The State Plan A Blueprint for Delivery of Civil Legal Aid to Low-Income People in Washington Goals:  Ensure availability of equal services for all low income people in need.  Invest scarce resources equitably & effectively.  Coordinate activities toward common goals.  Support the needs of programs serving clients.

The Funding Challenge: Public-Private Support IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts) Private Support (Campaign for Equal Justice) Federal (Legal Services Corporation) State (Office of Civil Legal Aid)

LESSONS LEARNED CONT. TRANSPARENCY/COMMUNICATION WE NEED ALLIES & A NONPARTISAN EFFORT; NEVER WRITE ANYONE OFF EVALUATE, QUANTIFY, EVOLVE

LESSONS LEARNED CONT. NO TURF NEVER LET A SERIOUS CRISIS GO TO WASTE IT’S THE CLIENTS, STUPID

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963 from Birmingham jail, Alabama

Some National (US) Resources Alliance for Justice American Bar Association: Center for Pro Bono & Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants Equal Justice Works Legal Services Corporation Management Information Exchange National Legal Aid & Defender Organization Pro Bono Net The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

Some WA State Resources Advocate Resource Center Alliance for Equal Justice Equal Justice Coalition Washington LawHelp (for clients) Washington State Bar Association, Access to Justice