March 1999 Volune 12 No3 - Utah State Bar

Legal Community Kicks Off Campaign for Civil Legal Services
More than 250 lawyers across Utah kicked off their joint
fundraising campaign caled "AN JUSTICE FOR ALL" on January
27th evening at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Rotunda. The
campaign is designed to raise money from lawyers to preserve
and improve free civil legal services to citizens in need across
Utah. The campaign hopes to raise $825,000 annually by asking
every attorney in the state to donate the dollar equivalent of two
bilable hours. The funds wil go to support the programs and
services of the Disability Law Center, Legal Aid Society and Utah
Legal Services.
Former First Lady of Utah, Norma Matheson, welcomed atten-
dees to the courthouse bearing the name of her husband, Scott
M. Matheson. Mrs. Matheson told how her decades of advocacy
for seniors had demonstrated the need for legal services. Utah
Supreme Court Chief Justice Howe encouraged attorneys to
participate in this important campaign. Governor Mike Leavitt
declared Januar 27, 1999 "AN JUSTICE FOR ALL" day in Utah. The
offcial proclamation was read by Utah State Bar President, Jim
Jenkins of Olson & Hoggan in Logan.
President James E. Faust of the First Presidency of the Church of
Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints presented a $100,000 chalenge
grant from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation
to the campaign. In order to secure the grant, the
campaign must raise $300,000 from members of the Bar. Presi-
dent Faust recalled how, as a young attorney, he was caled on
frequently to provide pro bono servces. He urged every attor-
ney in the state to give financial support to the campaign to
"make this edifce and al courts a temple of justice available to
everyone". President Faust also voiced support for the contribu-
tion standard, saying "I think the request to give two bilable
hours is a very modest request."
During the kick off, checks were presented by 22 law firms and
solo practitioners - and even the agency attorneys themselves -
representing pledges of $167,000. "AN JUSTICE FOR ALL" Cam-
paign Chair, Alan Sullvan, said "It is heartening to see such a
broadspectfUm of the legal community coming together to
support this important initiative. From solo practitioners in
smal towns, government lawyers, corporate counsel to the
state's leadig firms - each branch of our profession under-
stands that justice means nothing unless both rich and poor
have access to the legal system". The $167,000 dollars pledged
represents the participation of 544 of 5,385 attorneys from
across the state of Utah.
Ane Mie, Executive Director of Utah Legal Servces declared
that, ". . . afer 20 years of providing civil legal services to the
poor, I am overwhelmed by the support and appreciation we
received on behal of our clients and potential clients from our
colleagues at the kick off."
TIE NEED FOR CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES IS GROWING
The partner agency attorneys are the primary source of civi
legal representation for the poor and disabled throughout Utah.
It is a sizeable chalenge because there is:
· 1 attorney for every 494 Utah residents;
· 1 civi legal servces attorney for every 8,235 poor persons; and
· 1 disabilty rights lawyer for every 49,428 persons with dis-
abilties in Utah.
The agencies' clients are as diverse as Utah - encompassing all
races, religions, ethnic groups and ages. They include the work-
ing poor, children with Down's Syndrome, residents of the state
mental hospital, veterans, the homeless and victims of domestic
violence. Together the partner agencies share a responsibilty to
serve individuals who cannot afford a private attorney, who have
diculty understanding the legal system, who live outside the
margins of our society, and who are disenfranchised by reason
of disabilty, poverty, migrant status, or race.
COST EFFECTIVE SERVICES
The agencies' delivery of legal services is a model of effcient
resolution of disputes and avoidance of unnecessary litigation.
Only a smal percentage of cases, 27% in 1997, were resolved
with a court decision, and the vast majority of these are family
law or public benefit cases that require resolution by a court or
judge. A range of legal and non-legal avenues is used to resolve.
problems, including mediation, negotiation, self advocacy train-
ing and support, alternative dispute resolution and investigation
and monitoring.
LIMITED RESOURCES MEAN LIMITED SERVICES
In 1998, "AN JUSTICE FOR ALL" agencies provided assistance to
16,134 individuals, including:
· women and chidren escaping abuse;
· chidren with disabilties seeking equal access to public
education;
· famies and indivduals facing eviction from their homes; and
· abused or neglected adults and chidren living in the state's
institutions.
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