Access to Justice
The State Bar of Arizona has incorporated Access to
Justice in its mission statement and continues to expand its
efforts to help at-risk Arizonans, consistent with the "devotion to
the public good" included in the Lawyer's Creed of
Professionalism.
The current Access to Justice Task Force, according to its
mission statement, will "seek to develop additional consensus on
funding source proposals and law reform efforts, and will propose a
series of solutions, some of which the Bar may be expected to
develop on its own, and other of which would require a partnership
with the judicial, legislative or executive branches."
Based on recommendations received from the current task
force, at its December 2011 meeting the Board of
Governors agreed to:
- Distribute $400,000 for increasing Access to Justice
to the LSC-funded legal aid agencies for programs to build
infrastructure and leverage other forms of support as described in
the Task Force Report
- Work with the Superior Courts to establish a system for
appointment of counsel in civil cases; authorized president to
assign an entity (Legal Services Committee (LSC) suggested) to take
lead/develop policy; suggested to get presiding judges'
feedback
- Continue to support the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services
and Education in its coordinating role
- Distribute $25K to the Foundation to develop a five-year
fundraising plan; motion also included that representatives from
the Legal Services providers and the Foundation report at least
annually to the Finance Committee and the Board on the use of the
funds and benefits received
- Provide ongoing financial support for legal aid programs and
for the Foundation - continue support of sweeping 1% of SBA dues
revenue to the Foundation
- Promote participation in the Dues Check Off Program - to
provide $10,000 to be expended by the State Bar to improve the
effectiveness of the voluntary check off program and other methods
to increase participation
- Support efforts to develop loan repayment assistance programs
for lawyers engaged in public service
- Encourage use of the Working Poor Tax Credit to provide funding
to legal services agencies
- Set aside $15,000 to fund a future proposal, to be submitted
directly to the Board of Governors, to create a central, statewide
intake system for civil legal aid services
- Set aside $50,000 to be used to translate existing websites and
self-service center materials into Spanish and Navajo
- Develop and promulgate a Model Public Agency Pro Bono
Policy