Monday, February 16, 2009

ABA Chief Nudges Obama Administration For Cash To Create 1,000 Attorney "Legal Corps" To Supplement Current Legal Aid, Pro Bono Efforts

The ABA Journal reports:
  • Emboldened by the fact that there is not just one, but two lawyers at the executive branch helm, [American Bar Association] President H. Thomas Wells Jr. headed to the White House to see if he could make some progress on ABA initiatives.

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  • One initiative Wells raised is the creation of Legal Corps, which would direct more lawyers into efforts to represent a broad segment of working people in matters arising out of the economic crisis, such as foreclosures. Legal Corps lawyers would bolster services already being provided by lawyers in local offices supported by federal funding channeled through the Legal Services Corp. and lawyers working on a pro bono basis. The ABA’s initial proposal calls for federal funding to help support some 1,000 salaried lawyers providing services to clients meeting certain economic need criteria.

For the story, see ABA Pushes for 1,000-Lawyer Legal Corps.