Mississippi Access to Justice Commission. Judge Denise Owens, Co-Chair Davetta Lee, Executive Director

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1 Commission Judge Denise Owens, Co-Chair Davetta Lee, Executive Director

2 Access to Justice Commission Background Legal Services Corporation was formed by Congress in 1974 to meet the legal needs of poor families in America. Over time, federal funding for legal services has significantly declined. There has been a national movement to create state-based Access to Justice Commissions to increase bipartisan support for civil Legal Services and strengthen state level funding and public support. In an effort to address the justice gap in Mississippi, the Mississippi Supreme Court created the Access to Justice Commission.

There has been a national movement to create state-based Access to Justice Commissions to increase bipartisan support for civil Legal

3 The Supreme Court Ordered the Commission to do the following: Identify the current and future needs of the legal services community in providing access to justice to the poor in Mississippi; Develop and establish a strategic statewide plan for delivery of legal services to the poor in Mississippi; Develop strategies and ideas to increase resources and funding for access to justice in civil legal matters, and to make recommendations to appropriate entities to ensure that the resources and funding are applied to the areas and organizations of greatest need; Work to maximize the wise and efficient use of available resources, including development of local, regional and/or statewide systems that encourage the coordination of resources and funding; Develop and implement initiatives designed to expand civil access to justice; Work to reduce barriers to the justice system by addressing existing and proposed court rules, procedures and policies that affect access to justice for the poor; and Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the statewide system and services pro-vided, and periodically evaluate the progress made in fulfilling their respective responsibilities.

matters, and to make recommendations to appropriate entities to ensure that the resources and funding are applied to the areas and organizations of greatest need; Work to maximize the wise and

4 Mississippi Poverty Data Mississippi still ranks highest in households living in poverty Over 650,000 Live in poverty 22.6% of Mississippians live below the poverty line An additional 6.5% live between poverty and 125% of the poverty line Families living below 125% of the poverty line qualify for free Legal Services 29.1% of Mississippians live below 125% of poverty There are less than 35 paid Legal Services attorneys in Mississippi to serve the low income families seeking legal services

5% live between poverty and 125% of the poverty line Families living below 125% of the poverty line qualify for free Legal

5 Application to ABA for Phase II Access to Justice Expansion Grant Project: Access to Justice and Working Groups Goals: The purpose of the was to significantly increase innovation and collaboration among legal services providers, social services providers, healthcare providers, government agencies, and the nonprofit community. The Commission also seeks to enlist the private sector to help improve the efficiency and outcomes of Mississippi s legal services delivery system.

services providers, healthcare providers, government agencies, and the nonprofit community.

6 Justice for All New Strategies for Expanding Access to Justice in Mississippi Guest Speakers Justice Jess Dickinson, Mississippi Supreme Court James Sandman, Legal Services Corporation President Friday, September, 27, 2013

Dickinson, Mississippi Supreme Court James Sandman,

7 The Changing Face of Poverty Jessica Shappley, Mississippi Economic Policy Center Bridgette Wiggins, Special Assistant Attorney General Michael Jones, University of Mississippi Medical Center Davetta Lee, Mississippi Access to Justice Commission

Attorney General Michael Jones, University of Mississippi

8 Innovations in the Delivery of Legal Services Justice Janice Holder, Tennessee Supreme Court Bonnie Allen, Mississippi Center for Justice Deborah Bell, University of Mississippi School of Law Patti Gandy, Mission First Legal Aid & MC Law

Mississippi Center for Justice Deborah Bell, University of

9 Expanding the Scope in Mississippi Expanding the Conversation about Pro Bono Legal Services Davetta Lee, Mississippi ATJ Commission Whitney Barkley, Mississippi Center for Justice Young Lawyers & Access to Justice Tiffany Graves, Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project

Commission Whitney Barkley, Mississippi Center for Justice Young

10 Expanding the Scope in Mississippi Creating Faith-Based Initiatives for Access to Justice Rev. James Henley, Esq Patti Gandy, Mission First Legal Aid Making the Case for Funding Legal Aid in Mississippi Wilheim Joseph, Baltimore, MD Legal Services

James Henley, Esq Patti Gandy, Mission First Legal Aid Making

11 Panel Discussion of Breakout Session Findings Ben Cole North Mississippi Rural Legal Services Senator Sally Doty Mississippi Senate Patricia Wilkerson Jackson State University School of Social Work Joyce Hill Williams Special Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Human Services

Wilkerson Jackson State University School of Social Work Joyce Hill

12 Pro Bono Issues & Solutions Presented Unbundling Fears Attorneys need a standard agreement for limited scope representation Mississippi doesn t have a Pro Bono Firm Culture More Celebration for Pro Bono Performers Engage More Attorneys (usually only one at each firm) Engage Government and Corporate Attorneys Revisit Continuing Legal Education credit for pro bono participation More education to attorneys about what constitutes pro bono service Provide wider range of pro bono opportunities Better use of technology

at each firm) Engage Government and Corporate Attorneys Revisit Continuing Legal Education credit for pro bono participation More

13 Faith Based Initiatives for Access to Justice More education to the general public about available services Roster of Pro Bono attorneys and programs in the area More legal assistance to address mental health and homelessness Workshops about mental health Programs for veterans Utilize social workers Utilize community nonprofit organizations Attorneys should hold pro bono workshops in their local churches across the state Work with each denomination to create programs Intervention and Prevention

mental health Programs for veterans Utilize social workers Utilize community nonprofit organizations Attorneys should hold

14 Making the Case for Funding Legal Aid Collect data to show the value of legal aid to the greater community Economic Impact Study Expand the conversation from services to the poor to services to the state Expand fundraising efforts Build better relationships with legislators and state officials Education and outreach throughout the year Board Appointments Build better relationships with foundations and community organizations Collaborative projects Board Appointments

Build better relationships with legislators and state officials Education and outreach throughout the year Board

15 Young Lawyers & Access to Justice How to engage young lawyers Firms have independent projects Young lawyers division activities, such as the Wills for heroes project. National project that provides estate planning for first responders Over 400 people have been helped in the state YLD has recently adopted the lawyers in the library program Local young lawyers affiliates host community service events

National project that provides estate planning for first responders Over 400 people have been helped

16 Young Lawyers & Access to Justice Challenges: Pro bono work can be intimidating Young lawyers don t know about the opportunities Government lawyers and their prohibitions Family law is taking most of the time and energy of volunteer lawyers Solutions: Insert public service and the justice gap in law school curriculum Increase the use of technology Marketing pro bono work as networking opportunities, and experience gained Apprenticeship work for a supervisor attorney on pro bono cases

lawyers Solutions: Insert public service and the justice gap in law school curriculum Increase the use of technology

17 Young Lawyers & Access to Justice Solutions Expand the conversation about why young attorneys should do pro bono work Looks good for the firm Professional development for the attorney Learning new areas of the law Acquiring new legal skills Acquiring leadership skills Developing personal skills Broadening network

development for the attorney Learning new areas of the law Acquiring new legal

18 Madison Lambert Mississippi Access to Justice Raymond Port Gibson Petal Meridian Oxford Attendees Rosedale Ridgeland Terry Belzoni Canton Brandon Cleveland Out of State Flowood Greenville Hattiesburg Jackson Gulfport Isola

Ridgeland Terry Belzoni Canton Brandon Cleveland Out of

19 Next Steps Presentation to JSU School of Social Work about Access to Justice Issues Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project is working with Tennessee access to justice leaders to develop an Online Justice program in Mississippi Legal aid programs are revisiting their data collection procedures and collecting appropriate data for an economic impact study Legal Services programs are meeting with the bar s lobbyist to create a legislative plan for 2014 & 2015 Lawyers in the Library project in Hinds County as a pilot project for a statewide legal advice program

collection procedures and collecting appropriate data for an economic impact study Legal Services programs are meeting with the bar s

20 Next Steps Pro Bono Clinic at New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson and working to expand to other churches in 2014 Expansion of Forms Project for Pro Se Litigants Expansion of Local Access to Justice Projects in Rural Areas

2014 Expansion of Forms Project for Pro Se Litigants

21 Questions & Answers

Can t Afford a Lawyer for your Appeal? The Appellate Pro Bono Program May Be Able to Help!

Can t Afford a Lawyer for your Appeal? The Appellate Pro Bono Program May Be Able to Help! YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE: Percent of Poverty Guidelines (Monthly) Family Size (Household) 125%