REPORTANDRECOMMENDATIONSFROM THESTRATEGICPLANNINGCOMMITTEE
INTRODUCTION
TheTexasAccesstoJusticeCommission’sstrategicplanningprocessisdesignedto identifythemostcriticalneedsthattheCommissionwithitspartnerinstitutionshasthe capacitytoaffectandtodevelopstrategiesthattheCommissioncanundertaketoaddress thoseneeds.Itsgoalistoachievethehighestlevelofaccesstojusticeforlow-income individualsandfamiliesinTexas.
OnFebruary22,2024,theCommissiondiscussedindepththe Fact-FindingAndResearch ReportandRecommendations oftheplanningconsultants.OnMarch19,2024,the Commission’sStrategicPlanningCommittee1 discussedarevised Reportand Recommendations thatreflectedtheFebruarydiscussionoftheCommission.Thepurpose oftheMarch19meetingwastodeveloprecommendationsforthefullCommissionon whatspecificinitiativesshouldbethefocusoftheCommission’sstrategicplanningefforts movingforward.
1 Attendingthemeetingwere:
HarrietMiers,ChairoftheTexasAccesstoJusticeCommission,
Hon.DeborahHankinson(RetiredJusticeoftheTexasSupremeCourtandChairoftheTexasAccessto JusticeFoundation)
Hon.MichaelMassengale(CommissionerandretiredJusticeontheStateofTexasFirstCourtofAppeals)
Hon.RoyFerguson(CommissionerandJudgeofthe394th DistrictCourtoftheStateofTexas)
AlistairDawson(Commissioner)
BradToben(CommissionerandDeanEmeritusofBaylorLawSchool)
RolandJohnson(Commissioner)
TomLeatherbury(Commissioner)
Col.ThomasPalladino(U.S.ArmyRet.,ExecutiveDirectoroftheTexasVeteransCommission)
BettyBalliTorres(ExecutiveDirectoroftheTexasAccesstoJusticeFoundation)
RooseveltTerry(PresidentoftheHoustonAreaClientsCouncilofLoneStarLegalAid)
MariaThomas-Jones(ExecutiveDirectorofLegalAidofNorthWestTexas)
KarenMiller(ExecutiveDirectorofTexasLegalServicesCenter)
RichardLaVallo(FormerCommissioner,currentLegalDirectoratDisabilityRightsTexas)
JenniferMorris(VicePresidentandAssociateGeneralCounselatAT&T)
ChrisRitter(ChiefLegalCounseloftheStateBarofTexas)
Hon.LoraLivingston(InterimExecutiveDirectoroftheTexasAccesstoJusticeCommission)
AllisonNeal(DeputyExecutiveDirectoroftheTexasAccesstoJusticeCommission, DavidBristow(ProjectManager,TexasAccesstoJusticeCommission, DomingaTitus(OfficeManager,TexasAccesstoJusticeCommission), JohnTull(Consultant),andBruceBower(Consultant).
Thisreportreiteratespertinentaspectsoftheproposedinitiativesandreflectsthediscussion oftheStrategicPlanningCommitteeregardingeach.Itshouldbenotedthattheproposed strategieswithineachinitiativearejustthat– proposed strategies.Theexpectationisthat foreachoftheinitiativescommittedtobytheCommission,workinggroupswillbe appointedtodevelopobjectivesandstrategiesforeachinitiativethatwillberecommended totheCommissionforthestrategicplanitadopts.Theworkinggroupswillbemadeupof Commissionersaswellasothersrecruitedtoparticipatebecauseoftheirexpertise, institutionalroleandwillingnesstocommittimetoimprovingaccesstojusticeinTexas.
Ninepossibleinitiatives,whichwerepresentedtothefullCommissioninitsFebruary meeting,werediscussedbytheStrategicPlanningCommitteeinMarch.Thosewere:
Increasedavailabilityoflawyersfor representation
Increasedfundraising
Communicationandoutreach
Accesstothecourt
Ruralaccessand“legaldeserts”
Lawschools
Clientinvolvement
Technology
Structuralandoperationalissues
Attheendofthemeeting,thePlanningCommitteeagreedtotreat“Exploreimprovingthe viabilityofself-help” asaseparateinitiative.
TheStrategicPlanningCommitteeclosedthemeetingwitheachmembercompletingan onlinesurveytoranktheinitiativesbypriorityforrecommendationtotheCommission. Theresultsofthatrankingareshowninthefollowingchart.2
2 ThedataunderlyingthechartcanbefoundatAddendumOneatp.22.
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage2
POTENTIALSTRATEGICINITIATIVES INTHEORDERTHEYWEREPRIORITIZED BYTHESTRATEGICPLANNINGCOMMITTEE
Increasedavailabilityoflawyersforrepresentation
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee.
TheSupremeCourtOrderthatcreatedtheCommissionspecificallyfoundthat“poor peopleinTexasareunderrepresentedinthattheyreceivelimitedadvice…whenthey wouldinfactbebetterservedbyfullrepresentation….”TheCommission’swebsite evokesthisideal:“Alllitigantsshouldberepresentedbycompetentcounsel.Itgoeson tonote:“Untilwecanachievethatideal,however,wemustfindwaystosimplifyour systemforthosewholackthemoneytohirealawyer.”3
Becauselawyersarenotreadilyavailabletoprovidefullrepresentationtolow-income andmanymoderate-incomepeopleinneedoflegalhelp,anincreasinglylarge percentageoflitigantsareunrepresentedonbothsidesofamatter.4 Asaresult,there hasbeenincreasingemphasisonself-helpsupportforunrepresentedlitigants.5
Somejudgesandlegalaidadvocatesinthefact-findingsurveyandinterviews expressedastrongconcernthatself-helpmaterialsareinherentlyinadequatetolevel theplayingfieldforunrepresentedlitigantswheretheotherpartyisrepresentedbyan attorney.Whenbothpartiestoadivorceareunrepresented,itwasobservedthatoften thestrongerpartyintherelationshiptakesadvantageinproposedsettlements’treatment ofcustody,childsupport,anddivisionofdebtsandproperty.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Ourbesteffortsshouldbespentonmakingsurethereisacontinuumofservices availablefromadviceandbriefservice,supportforself-helpremediesandfull representationandthatcontinuumshouldbecomprehensive.
Weshouldberobustinourthinkingabouthowtoprovidethebestforalltheoptions andshouldnotignoreanyone.Itwouldbehelpfultoknow,onthecontinuumbetween self-helpandfullrepresentation,whatmovestheneedleinmeetingpeople’sneeds. Thereislikelyno“magicsolution”thattakescareofeverythinganditisadelicate balanceamongtheoptionsandwecan’tleaveanyoneaside.Avarietyisparticularly importantinastatelikeTexaswithitssizeanddiversityofsituations.Infocusingits
3 ProSeLitigants|TexasAccesstoJusticeCommission(texasatj.org)
4 See, Self-RepresentedLitigants|NCSC
5 See,forexample,theSelf-RepresentedLitigationNetwork, SRLN
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Probonoisdownsincethepandemicandthereisalargeuntappedresourceinthe lawyerswhoarenotdoingit.
Itisimportanttorespondtowhattheclientneedsandwants.Thedesirablegoalin legalaidistogivetheclient100%ofwhattheywant,whichwithsomemaybelegal adviceandforothersextendedservices.Manywhoneedorwantthelatterdon’tgetit. Itmightbeusefultodoastudyofwhatmakesdifferentkindsofassistancesuccessful –whatinterventions,whatcharacteristicsoftheclients,whattypesofissues,etc.The Foundationinthepasthasaskeditsgranteestoreport,foritsclientswhodidnotget extendedrepresentation,thereasonwhy–forexample,theclientdidnotrequestit,the casewasnotviable,ortheprogramlackedresources.Suchastudycouldbeconducted again.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiatives
TheReportsuggestedavarietyofwaystoincreasetheavailabilityoflegalrepresentation inbothfamilyandothermatters,someofwhichitnotedmightalsobeexploredasvehicles toovercometheweaknessofself-help.6
Increasedfundingforlegalaid,somorelawyerscanbehired.7
Increasedprobonorecruitment,includingthroughlargelawfirms,corporate counseldepartments,theFamilyLawSection,andotherSectionsoftheStateBar;
FeeshiftinginfamilylawmatterspursuanttorelevantTexasstatutes;
Limitedrighttocounselinitiatives,wherepossible;
Supportforlow-feelawfirms;
Increaseduseofdiscretetaskorunbundledrepresentation;
Engagementoflicensedparalegalsandcommunityjusticeworkers,ifapprovedby theSupremeCourt;and
Increaseduseofmediation,whereappropriate.
Increasedprobono. Earnesteffortstoexpandtheavailabilityofprobonolegalhelpwill continuetobeanessentialingredientofeffortstoincreaseaccesstojusticeinTexas. Severalideasweresuggestedinthesurveyandinterviews,thoughnotspecifically discussedbytheStrategicPlanningCommittee:
Inthefamilylawarea,engagingtheFamilyLawSectioninajointchallengetohelp solvetheproblemofthelackoflawyersbyexploringhowtoincreaseitslawyers’ probonoinvolvement;
Recruitmentofwell-knownlawyerswithrecognizedexpertiseinfields,suchas familyortaxlaworwillsandestatestoserveasmentorsforyounglawyerswho
6 Exploringwaystomakeself-helpmoreviablewasvotedonasaseparatepossibleinitiativebythe StrategicplanningCommittee,anddiscussedbelowatp.16
7 Thisisdiscussedasaseparateinitiativeatp.10.
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage4 efforts,theCommissionshouldbeguidedbytheorderoftheSupremeCourtthat createdtheCommission
Conveneameetingofprobonocounselfromlargelawfirmstoshareinformation aboutwhattheydoandwhatissuccessful;
Conveneameetingofcorporatecounseltodiscussthejusticegapandtoenlisttheir supportinundertakingprobonoprojectstorespond;8
Supportmandatory probono;and
Makeaprobonopitchbeforeorasa15minuteethicscomponentineveryCLE event.
Substantiallyincreaseduseoffeeshiftingstatutes. Texas’codeprovisionspermita courtinafamilylawproceedingtoorderthepartywithgreaterresourcestopaytheattorney feesfortheotherparty,ifthatpartyisunabletoaffordanattorney.9 Althoughthereisnot acultureinTexasofusingthesefeeshiftingstatutestoincreasetheavailabilityofprivate lawyerstoproviderepresentation,thereareotherstateswhereitiscommonpractice.It wouldtakethoughtfulstrategiestoengagetheSupremeCourt,membersofthebar,trial judges,andjudicialeducatorstoencourageawideruseofthispotentialtooltoincrease representation.
Righttocounsel.Somestateshaveadoptedapolicyofprovidingattorneysforallindigent partiesinmatters,suchasevictions,whereasubstantialrightisatstake.10 Texashasa righttocounselincasesinvolvingterminationofparentalrights.Inaddition,thereare examplesinHarrisandTraviscountiesofarrangementstoprovidecounselineviction mattersforalltenant-defendantsunabletoaffordcounsel.OnememberoftheStrategic PlanningCommitteesuggestedthatrighttocounselbetreatedasitsowninitiative,sinceit would“requireitsownrobustrule,regulatory,orlegislativestrategies.”
Encouragewideruseoflawyersforlimitedrepresentationtoassistlitigantstohandle theircasewithprofessionalhelpatkeystages,whilehandlingthematterontheirown whentheyareable.
Low-feelawfirms. TheStateBarofTexascurrentlysupportstheTexas Opportunity&JusticeIncubator(txoji.com)whichseekstoencouragelawfirms
8 See,ACC.COM,whichhas30pagesoflinksrelatedtoprobonoeffortsbycorporatecounsel.
9 TheFamilyCodeauthorizesbothtemporaryorders(Tex.Fam.CodeAnn.§6.502)andfinalorders(Tex. Fam.CodeAnn.§6.708)directingpaymentofattorney’sfeesbyonepartytotheother.Thesameistrue inchildcustodymatters(Tex.Fam.CodeAnn.§106.002).Inaddition,underTexaslaw,acountyor districtjudgemayalsoappointcounseltorepresentpartieswhoestablishtheyareunabletoafford counsel.(Tex.Gov’tCodeAnn.§26.049andTex.Gov’tCodeAnn.§24.016).Suchrepresentationis unreimbursed.
ATexasstatutealsoauthorizestheappointmentofprobonocounselinevictionappeals,wheretheparty “hasperfectedtheappealonapaupersaffidavit.”(Tex.Gov’tCodeAnn.§25.0020.)
10 WashingtonState,forexample,hascreatedanevictiondefenseprogramunderwhicheveryindigent tenantsubjecttoevictionhasarighttocounsel. EvictionDefensePrograms|OCLA(wa.gov).Seealso, About|CivilRighttoCounsel|NCCRC
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage5 haveagreedtotakeprobonocases,usingtechnologytomakesuchsupport availableoutsideofcities;
Increaseduseofdiscretetaskorunbundledrepresentation.Arelatedinquiry wouldexaminetheviabilityofincreaseddiscretetask(unbundled)representation asafeatureofpracticesthatseektoservelow-incomeandmodestincomeclients. Nationally,therearefirmsandlegalaidprogramsthatregularlyofferrepresentation fordiscretetasks,agreeingwiththeclientforwhichpartsofamattertheattorney willdirectlyrepresenttheclientandforwhichpartstheclientwillberesponsible, withthesupportandhelpoftheattorney.Theviabilityofdiscretetasks representationdependsonitsacceptabilityundercourtrules,theexpectationsof judgesinthecourtroomandtheclarityofexpectationsbetweentheclientandthe attorney.
Limitedlicenseparaprofessionals.TheSupremeCourthasonlyrecentlyreceivedthe recommendationsoftheCommissionregardingthepossibilityofpermittingtrainedand licensedparaprofessionalsorcommunityjusticeworkerstoproviderepresentationin discreteareasoffamilylaw,probateandestatesandconsumer-debt.Theareawiththe greatestunmetneedisfamilylaw.IfthecourtactsontheCommission’srecommendations, theCommission,aspartofitsplanningprocess,mayexplorewaysforthenewlycreated classoflegalworkerstobeusedtoaddresstheneedsinthisarea.
Mediation. Texaslawstronglysupportsalternativedisputeresolution(ADR),including mediation.Mediationservicesaregenerallyavailableinlargercommunities.12 Askilled mediatorcanhelpaddresspowerimbalancesandcanspotandattempttoaddressvarious exploitativebehaviorsofthekindnotedearlierinthisreport.13 Mediationfromanexpert mediatorofapublicmediationservicemayresultinajustoutcome.Courtshavethe authoritytoreferamattertomediationandmaybeencouraged,throughjudicialtraining, todosowhenanapparentuncontesteddivorceappearstobeleadingtoanunjustor exploitiveresult.14 Amattermaybereferredformediationbyacourtorattherequestofa partyatvariouspointsintheprocedure,includingpretrialconference.15
Theremayalsobeopportunitiestoofferparticipationinrepresentationoflow-income partiesinmediationasaprobonoservicebycorporatecounselandattorneysinlargelaw firms,bysupervisedlawstudents,andbyotherprobonomembersofthelegalprofession.
11 See, LegalIncubators(americanbar.org)
12 TheTexasStateLawLibrarymaintainsinformationaboutnumerouspublic-facingdisputeresolution services. See DisputeResolutionCenters-LegalAssistanceOrganizations-GuidesatTexasStateLaw Library at https://guides.sll.texas.gov/legal-assistance-organizations
13 Seeobservationonp.3.
14 Tex.Civ.Prac.&Rem.CodeAnn.§154.021.
15 See,Tex.R.Civ.P.166(o).
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage6 thataredesignedtoproviderepresentationtoclientsonalowfeeorslidingscale basis.Themodelusestechnology,alternativefeearrangementsandotheroptions “beyondthetraditionalbillablehours.”So-calledincubatormodelshavegained nationalattentioninrecentyearsandthelessonslearnedmayprovidevaluable supportiveguidanceforanexpandedeffortinTexas.11
Accesstocourts
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee.
Languageaccessandaccessforpersonswithadisabilitywereidentifiedinthefactfindingandresearcheffortsoftheplanningprocessasimportantareasforthe Commissiontoaddress.Thereisanintersectionbetweenlanguageaccessandtheneed forinterpretersforhearing-impairedlitigants.Theirimportancewashighlightedboth asaccesstojusticeandcourtroom-efficiencyissues.
TheCommissionhaslongworkedtoaddresslanguageaccesschallengesinthecourts. Itsuccessfullysupportedlegislationin2023thatexemptspartiesfromhavingtopay thecostsofaninterpreteriftheyfileaRule145statementofinabilitytopaycourt costs.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
TheAmericanBarAssociation(ABA)hasengagedinarobustlanguageaccess initiativeandjustheldasummitontheissueinSeattle.Thereare10ABAstandards regardinglanguageaccess.TheABA’seffortscaninformwhatevertheCommission takesonifitpursuesthisinitiative.Languageaccesshasbeenanimportant contributionoftheCommissionandhassignificantlybenefitedlegalaidprograms,the courtsandothersovertheyears.Itissignificantaswellthatithasa“greenlight”under theMcDonalddecision(McDonaldv.Longley,4F.4th229(5thCir.2021)).
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Supportimplementationofthe2023legislation.Althoughthelegislativeeffortsin2023 weresuccessful,muchworkremainstobedonetoassurethatcertifiedinterpretersare availableineverycountyinresponsetothestate’slegislativemandate.Thechallengeis exacerbatedbytheshortageofcertifiedinterpretersandthemultiplicityoflanguagesextant inmanyofTexas’surbanareas,notablyinHouston.Thereisanopportunitytoworkwith theOfficeofCourtAdministration(OCA),whichhasaLanguageAccessDepartmentthat offersresourcesandinformationtoassistcourtsinusinginterpreterseffectively.Italso runstheTexasCourtRemoteInterpreterServicesthatprovidesfreeSpanishlanguage interpreterservicesbytelephoneorvideoconferencinginshortnon-evidentiaryhearings. OCAisalsochargedwithmonitoringtheexpensesofeachcountyinprovidingcertified interpreters.OCAappearstobeanaturalallyoftheCommissiontoworkwithothersto addresstheissue.
Remoteproceedings. Supportfortheexpansionandeffectiveuseofremoteproceedings wasidentifiedasthetenthmostimportantissuefortheCommissiontoaddressinthe planningprocess.Manyjudges–eveninruralareas–havegonebacktorequiringinpersonappearancesinallproceedingsandallmatters.DramaticevidencefromTexasand otherstatesdemonstratesunequivocallythestrikingimpactofremoteproceedingson
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PlainLanguage.Theneedforplainlanguageincourtdocumentsalsoimplicates meaningfulaccesstothecourts.Giventhefactthatmanylow-incomepersonsare unrepresentedincourtmattersinvolvingfamilylaw,evictionsanddebt,thereisincreasing calltohavecourtdocumentswritteninplainlanguage.16
Communicationandoutreach
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee.
Theneedforimprovedcommunicationwasarecurringthemeintheinterviewsand surveycomments.Improvedcommunicationwassuggestedinthreediscrete,though interrelatedareas.
o Thefirstisbettercommunicationgenerallyabouttheroleandactivitiesofthe Commission.Thefact-findingandresearcheffortsshowedthattheCommission wasnotnearlyaswell-known–evenintheaccesstojusticecommunity–asmight beexpectedordesirable.
o ThesecondiscommunicationbetweentheCommissionandlegalaidproviders regardingtheroleandoperationofboth.AconcernnotedbybothCommissioners andthelegalaidstaffandleadershipwasthattheCommissionisnotasfamiliar withtheworkandchallengesoflegalaidprovidersasisdesirable.Similarly,many inthelegalaidcommunitywerenotfamiliarwiththeCommission’swork.
o Thethirdareainvolvesoutreachtootherinstitutionsandintereststobringthem intothefoldofthosewhocareaboutandsupportaccesstojustice.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Therewasarecognitionoftheimportanceofcommunicationandoutreachinallthe areasnotedabove.Itisalwaysimportanttoreachoutandstrengthencurrent relationshipsandbuildnewones.Effortshavebeenunderwaywithcorporatecounsel. Itissomethingweshouldalwaysdo,butitmightbeappropriateforastrategicinitiative todoitinamoreintentionalway.Itiseasiertodothanitseemsitmightbe.
Someyearsago,theTexasAccesstoJusticeFoundationwastolditshouldnotengage inaseriousfundraisingeffort,because“Nobodyknowswhoyouare.”Asaresult,the FoundationhiredacommunicationspersonaswellasaPRfirmandhasengagedina sustainedefforttostayinthemindsofothers.“Wearealwaysworkingonthat”by talkingtothemediaandissuingpressreleases.Ithasmade“anincredible difference.”TheFoundationnowhasamediastrategyalongwithalegislative strategy.
16 SeeNationalCenterforStateCourtsdiscussionoftheimportanceofplainlanguageat PlainLanguage| NCSC
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage8 increasingaccesstothecourts.TheCommission’scontinuedsupportoftheircontinuation andexpansionappearswarranted.
Personalone-on-onecommunicationisimportant.Successfulresourcedevelopment dependsonpeopleknowingwhoyouare.Ittakesgoingouttotheentitiesyouare reachingouttolikecorporations,churches,andsocialserviceoperationsandsitting downwiththemtoidentifyalignedobjectives.Itisimportanttohaveaconnection withlawschools,becausetheyhelpdeterminethelawstudents’understandingof accesstojustice.
TheCommissionhadacommunicationsstaffpositionatonepoint,anditmaybe appropriatetoconsiderthevalueofthatagain,thoughitisabudgetissue.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
BroadcommunicationabouttheroleandactivitiesoftheCommission. Theauthority oftheCommissionislargelyhortatoryanditssuccesssignificantlydependsonthedegree towhichitisseenasanhonestandcompetentbrokerregardingaccesstojusticeissues. Thelesswellitisknown,thelesseffectiveitcanbeencouragingchange.Asapartofthis strategicplanningeffort,theCommissionmaywishtoexaminewaystoensureaneffective communicationstrategy.Thatgenerallyinvolvesadeliberateconsiderationoftheintended outcomeofthemessage,thetargetaudiencesandmessagesappropriateforthem,the appropriatemediumtodeliverthemessagesandthepreferredmessengers.17
ImprovedcommunicationbetweentheCommissionandserviceproviders.Thefactfindingandresearcheffortinthisplanningprocessidentifiedaneedforagreaterflowof informationbetweentheCommissionandthelegalaidserviceproviders.Someofthe strategicinitiativesundertakenmayprovideavehicleforsuchanexchangethroughthe involvementofavarietyoffieldprogrampersonnelintheworkinggroupsthatdevelopthe strategicinitiatives.Otherstrategiesmaybepursued:
Periodically,holditsmeetingsindifferentpartsofthestateandschedulevisitsto localserviceproviders.
Invitepresentationsfromstaffoflegalaidprovidersregardingtheirworkandinvite discussionbytheCommissionregardingtheissuesinvolved.18
InvolvestaffofserviceprovidersintheworkingcommitteesoftheCommission.
InvitemembersoftheCommissiontoparticipateintheFoundation’ssitevisitsof itsgrantees.
EstablishamoreformalandongoingrelationshipwiththePovertyLawSectionof theStateBarofTexas,whichiscomprisedsignificantlyoflegalaidstafflawyers.
Obtainnon-confidentialdatagatheredbytheTexasAccesstoJusticeFoundation fromitsgrantees,throughthe“Self-AssessmentReports”(“SARs”).19
17 Seee.g., How-Tos|VoicesforCivilJustice.
18 Thishashappenedrecentlyandwasheraldedintheinterviewsashavingbeenveryuseful.
19 TheSARcontainsinformationaboutthesubjectmatterofcasesclosedduringthepriorcalendaryearby eachgrantee,thelevelofservicesprovided,andhowmanycaseswereclosedpercounty.Italsoreports howmanyvolunteerattorneysclosedcasesfortheprogram.Inthepast,theFoundationhascollected datatrackingthereasonsthatlimitedrepresentationcaseswereclosedwithoutextendedservices.The
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Undertakeastatewidelegalneedsassessment.
Outreachtootherinstitutionsandintereststobringthemintotheaccesstojustice foldinTexas.Suchaninitiativemayinvolvetwotypesofoutreach:
Toinstitutionsthatalreadyhaveapotentialconnectionwithaccesstojusticeefforts inTexas,butwhicharenotnecessarilyinsyncwiththeCommission:
o ThePovertyLawSection, whichisprincipallymadeupoflegalaidlawyers;
o TheComputerandTechnologySection,whichhasreachedouttothe Commissionandlegalaidproviders;
o TheTexasYoungLawyersAssociation,whichactivelyaddressesavarietyof issuessomeofwhichpertaintotheworkofCommission;
o TheFamilyLawSectionwithwhich,despiteconflictsinthepast,hassome commoninterestswiththeCommission,particularlythoserelatedtoincreasing theavailabilityoflawyersto providefullrepresentation;
o Localbarleaders.
Toinstitutionsandintereststhatarenotconnectedwithaccesstojustice,butwhose involvementmaybebeneficial,including:
o Entitiesintheagingcommunity,suchastheTexasHealthandHumanServices CommissionLegalServicesDeveloper,andtheTexasSilver-Haired Legislature,whichisauthorizedbytheTexaslegislaturetodeveloplegislative recommendationsrelatedtotheneedsofseniors;
o Corporationsandcorporatecounsel,whichhavepreviouslybeenidentifiedas appropriateconnectionsforincreasedresourcedevelopmentandprobono efforts.Thoseeffortsmaybeundertakenasapartofageneraloutreacheffort toincreasetheengagementofthoseinterestsinbroadsupportofaccessto justice;
o Socialserviceagencies,faith-basedgroupsandeducationalinstitutions.
Expandedresourcedevelopment
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee
Thefact-findingandresearchcomponentoftheplanningprocessidentifiedresource developmentasahighlyimportantissuefortheCommissiontotakeon.Therewasa recognitionamongmanyintervieweesthatalthoughraisingmoniesisaprimary responsibilityoftheTexasAccesstoJusticeFoundation,thisisanareawherethe CommissiononitsownorinconcertwiththeFoundationhasanimportantrole.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Therewasadiscussionoftheimportanceofstudiesthatshowthesocietalcostofnot providingrepresentation.Inthepast,theFoundationdidastudyregardingcost-benefit
SARalsotracksthelanguagecapabilitiesofthegrantees.Ataminimum,thecommissionmightbenefit fromasummaryoftheservicesbeingdeliveredstatewideandcounty-by-county.
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Therewasaninquiryregardingwhetherthereisanyresearchontheappropriatenessof cypres fundsandthecurrentpositionofTexascourts.Twenty-fivestateshavearule regardingthedistributionof cypres funds.TheSupremeCourtAdvisoryCommittee hasasubcommitteethatisexaminingtheissueinTexas.TheCommissionhas requestedthattheSupremeCourtadoptarulethat100%of cypres awardsgotothe Foundation.
Aquestionwasraisedregardingwhatincreasedfundswouldbeusedforandwhether itwouldbeappropriatetodeterminethepurposesforwhichadditionalresourcesare neededbytheCommission.Itwasnotedthatincreasedresourcesareneededforthe accesstojusticesystemoveralljusttokeeppacewithcurrentneedsandtoexpand capacitytobegintohelpthe92%whoarenotabletogethelpnow.Thequestionwas raisedwhethertheextentofavailableresourcesfromcurrentsourcesisknown.Inother words,isitbettertoworkwiththesourcesthatcurrentlyprovidefundingratherthan topursuenewsourcesoffunding?
Therewasastrongfeelingthatmorefundingcouldbeobtainedthroughthebardues check-off.Inparticular,theduescheck-offmechanismneedstobechanged.Itscurrent designandoperationinhibitgettingthesupportneeded,becausealotoflawyersnever seetheirbarstatement,eventhoughtheymightsupportaccesstojusticeefforts.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Barduescheckoff.Undertakeaconcertedcampaigntoincreasethepercentageof attorneyswhoparticipateinthebarduescheckofftosupportlegalaid.Educatelawyers abouttheshocking92%justicegapandtherelativelypainlesswaytheycancontributeto addressingit.Worktocorrectthemeansbywhichduesarecollectedelectronicallyto overcomethepracticalinhibitionitcurrentlyplacesonlawyersoptingfortheduescheck off.
Supportastudyofthesocietalimpactoflegalaidservices. Thisideaemergedinthe discussionoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee.Itinvolvesshowingthesocietalcostsof notprovidinglegalaidwhereitisneededandtheeconomicbenefitsthataccruewhenitis provided.
Outreachtopotentialnewsourcesofsupport:corporations,wealthybenefactors,the plaintiffs’bar.Toenlistsupportfromthesegroups,usethelatestJusticeGapreport,which showsthat92%oflow-incomeTexanswithalegalproblemdonothaveanyhelp addressingit. Withregardtocorporateleadership, Texasmightcreateitsown“Leadership
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage11 oflegalaid,butthestudyisold.Itwasnotedthatthetermmorecommonlyusedfor fundraisingis“resourcedevelopment.”Itisimportanttobemindfulofnotinterfering withlocalresourcedevelopmentbythelegalaidprovidersand,whenpossible, enhancingtheirfundraisingefforts.Theoverallgoalistoincreaseresourcescoming intotheaccesstojusticecommunity.Itisimportanttobeclearaboutwhoisresponsible forresourcedevelopmentandtotakeadvantageofjointefforts,including,forexample, withtheBarFoundation.
Council,”akintothenationalgroupofbusinessinterestsbroughttogetherbytheLegal ServicesCorporation.Somesuggestedreachingouttoawideraudience(likehedgefund billionaires),perhapsenlistingachampionwhoisawell-knownsportsorartsperson. Morecouldalsobedonetoenlistsupportfromprivateattorneys,includingparticularlythe plaintiffs’bar.
Cypres.Court-approved cypres awardsareafurtherpotentialsourceoffunding.On February22,2024,theCommissionapprovedamotiontorecommendthatRule42tobe revisedtorequirethatcypresawardsbegiventotheTexasAccesstoJusticeFoundation fordistributiontoitsgrantees.
CountyLawLibraryFunds. AnuntappedsourceofmoneyareunspentCountyLaw Libraryfundsthatmaybespentincertaincircumstancestoassistintherepresentationof low-incomepeople.20
Ruralaccess/“legaldeserts”
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee
ThelackoflawyersisachallengeconfrontingthemanyruralcountiesinTexas.A 2018reportoftheStateBarofTexasfoundthat67ofTexas’245countieshavefive lawyersorfewer,ofwhich17countieshavejustonelawyerandsixhavenolawyers atall.Itisaproblemthatisnationalinscopeandhasgarneredsignificantattention acrossthecountry.21
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Thisinitiativecutsacrosstheotherinitiatives.Inordertoaddresstherealchallenge, weneedtodothingswhicharealsofoundinalloftheotherinitiatives.Itisanarea wheretechnologyiscrucial.Recruitmentoflawyersisessentialandwehaveto overcomethemisperceptionthatyoucannotmakeadecentlivingpracticinginarural area.
Itisanareawherelawschoolscanbeveryimportantandweshouldexpandthe availabilityoflawstudentswithabarcardwhocanappearremotely.Itisanuntapped areaandmanyjudgesdonotknowthatstudentscanappear.Thereneedstobeachange intheruleregardingthenumberofstudentsthataprofessorcansupervise,whichis nowsetatfour,whichiswellbelowthenationalnorm.Itwouldbehelpfultohave privatepractitionershelpsuperviselawstudents.Thereweredifferentviewpoints regardingwhetherlawstudentswiththeclient’sconsentshouldbeabletoappearin civilmattersatthetriallevelwithouttheirsupervisingattorney.
20 Tex.Loc.Gov’tCodeAnn.§323.023.
21 LegalDeserts:AMulti-StatePerspectiveonRuralAccesstoJusticebyLisaR.Pruitt,AmandaL.Kool, LaurenSudeall,MicheleStatz,DanielleM.Conway,HannahHaksgaard::SSRN TheColoradoAccess toJusticeCommissionrecentlyobtaineda$650,000two-yearfederalgranttotacklethechallenge.
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Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Lawschools.Thereareanumberofthingsthatlawschoolscandoandaredoingto respondtothelegaldesertchallenge.Theyprovidefellowships,externshipsandsummer placements.AsdiscussedbytheStrategicPlanningCommittee,participantsinalaw schoolclinicwithabarcardcanappearremotelyinhearings.St.Mary’sCollegeoflaw hasrecentlydevelopedthefirstABAaccreditedonlinelawschoolinthecountry,which drawsmanystudentswhorequireonlineaccessbecauseoflivinginmoreremoterural areas.Itishopedthatlawgraduatesfromthoseruralareaswillremainintheir communities,mitigatingthelackoflawyersthere.
Technology. Technologyisseenasanessentialtooltobringlegalresourcestoremote countieswithfewornolegalresources.Unfortunately,areasthatqualifyaslegaldeserts sometimeshavelimitedwebaccesswithlowbandwidthandlimitedavailabilityof computers.Possiblestrategiestoaddressthislackarediscussedinthesectiononthedigital divideinthetechnologyinitiative.22
Medical-legalpartnerships. Medical-legalpartnershipstodeploylegalassistanceto addressthesocialdeterminantsofhealthhaveincreasinglybeenemployednationallyand inTexas.TheCommissioncouldexplorewhetherasynergycouldbedevelopedtoaddress thelackofaccesstojusticeinlegaldesertsbymeansofmedical-legalpartnershipsinrural healthclinics.
Remoteproceedings.Texaswastheepicenterofdemonstratingthevalueofremote hearingsinmakingcourtaccessavailableinruralareas,.Requiringin-personparticipation hasbeenshowntoeliminateahighpercentageoflitigantsfromappearing.Inspiteofthis, however,itwasreportedthatmanyjudgeshavegonebacktorequiringin-person appearancesformostoralloftheirproceedings.23
Uniformformsandprocedures.Anotherfactorinhibitingtheavailabilityoflegal representationinruralareasisthelackofuniformformsandproceduresacrossthestate, whichdiscourageslawyersfromofferingservicesinmultiplecounties,includingrural ones.ItisanareainwhichtheCommissionmightworkwithothers,includingtheOffice ofCourtAdministration,toencouragemeaningfulchange.
Technology
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee
TheTexasAccesstoJusticeCommissioninconcertwiththeTexasAccesstoJustice Foundationhashadarichhistorysupportingtheeffectiveuseoftechnologybylegal aidprovidersinTexas.Inthepast,itsolicitedthesupportoftheITsectionsofmajor
22 Challengesassociatedwiththedigitaldividearediscussedbelowatp.15.
23 Remotehearingsarediscussedaboveatp.7.
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Texashasbeenatthecuttingedgeofmakingonlineservicesavailablethrough TexasLawHelpwhichprovidesguidance,includinginstructions,checklistsandcourt formsacrossavarietyoflegalissues.24 TexasLawHelpalsoofferspersonswhoqualify anopportunitytochatlivewithalawstudent,paralegalorvolunteerattorney.25 The TexasLegalServicesCenterwithsupportfromtheTexasAccesstoJusticeFoundation isdevelopinganetworkofkioskstoallowpersonswithoutacomputertoattenda virtualcourthearingorvideomeeting,aswellastogetinformationaboutlegal problemsandgetlegalhelp.26
Thefact-findingandresearcheffortsinthisprocessidentifiedtwoimportantthemes regardingtechnology.Thefirstistheinherentvalueoftechnologyinsupportingthe workoflegalaidprovidersandtheireffectiveinteractionwithcommunitiestheyserve. Thattechnologyisconstantlyevolvingandrequirescontinuingeffortstostaycurrent. Thesecondisthechallengeofthedigitaldividethatinhibitstheparticipationofa significantsegmentofthelow-incomepopulation,astechnologybecomesamore integralpartofservicedeliveryandofcourtoperations.
AnumberofpersonsinterviewedfeltitwasimportanttounderstandtheimpactofAI onaccesstojustice.TheStateBarofTexashasagroupthatisconsideringtheimpact ofAIonthepracticeoflaw.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Itisimportanttomaintainandkeepup-to-datewithtechnologyinlegalaidprograms, butfundingitcompeteswithothercostsofservicedelivery,includingpersonnel.Itis difficulttogetfundingformaintainingandimprovingtechnologybecausefunderswant tosupportservices.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Supportingtheeffectiveuseoftechnologyinaccesstojustice.
TheCommissionshouldcontinuetopayattentiontoevolvingtechnologyneedsandwork withtheFoundationtoassurethatlegalaidprogramsstayuptodate.Inadditiontothis generalchallenge,severalspecificneedswereidentified.Theyarediscussedimmediately below.
24 See, Frontpage|TexasLawHelp.
25 See,AskaQuestion|TexasLawHelp
26 See, VirtualCourtKiosks|TLSC
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage14 lawfirmsinthestatetodoaninventoryoftechnologicalcapacityamongthelegalaid programs.TheFoundationthenprovidedthefundstobringtheprovidersinthestate uptoanagreedupontechnologicalbaseline.
Supportcentralizedintakeandreferral.Duringinterviewing,supportwasexpressed foracentralizedreferralandintakeportaltolessentheexperienceofthosecallinglegalaid bouncingfromonesourceofassistancetoanother.TheFoundationisconsideringsuchan undertaking.Effectivetechnologywillberequiredtocreateandmaintainsuchasystem.
StudyevolvingAIopportunitiesandchallenges.ArtificialIntelligenceappearspoised tohavearadicalimpactonpracticeoflawandtheoperationofcourts,alongwithmany otheraspectsofAmericanlife.TherearewaysthatAImaybeusedtoenhanceaccessto justice.Atthesametime,AImayalsobeusedtoexploitvulnerablepeopleandlegal advocateswillneedtobeattentivetothoseabusesastheyarise.TheStateBarofTexas hasataskforceexaminingtheissue,soabroadinquirybytheCommissionmaybe duplicative.Nevertheless,therearerisksandopportunitiesthatareuniquetolow-income, unrepresentedpersonsandtheyshouldbeconsidered.
AdvocateforeffectiveuseoftechnologyinTexascourts.Texaswasexemplaryinthe nationduringtheCOVIDcrisisinadjustingtotheneedforremotehearingsandin supportingthetechnologytoaccomplishthat.Sincethepandemichaseased,however, manycourtshavegonebackentirelytoin-personhearings.Someinthefact-findingand researcheffortseethatasapartofageneralresistancetoembracingtechnologybysome courtsinthestate.Othercourts,incontrast,showaconsistentcreativityinusing technologytoenhancetheiroperationsandincreaseaccess.TheCommissionmayplaya beneficialroleinidentifyingpossibleimprovementsandsupportingtheOfficeofCourt AdministrationandtheSupremeCourtindevelopinguniformuseoftechnologyacrossthe statetobenefitaccesstojustice.
Supportacrossthedigitaldivide,includinginremoteruralareasandlegal deserts
Supportforkiosksandotherhands-ontechnologicalsupport.Thesurveyand interviewsnotedthe“digitaldivide”isasignificantchallengeinanyefforttouse technologytoincreaseaccesstojustice.Theconcernwiththedigitaldivideledmany personsinterviewedtoemphasizetheimportanceofthekiosksthatarefundedbytheTexas AccesstoJusticeFoundationandbeingdevelopedbytheTexasLegalServicesCenter.
Anotherideaforprovidingaccesstotechnologyandsupportforitsuseistodevelopaplan toworkwiththeTexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionOfficesthatareadministeredbyTexas A&MUniversityandarelocatedinnearlyeverycounty.Thoseofficesweredescribedas generallyreceptivetoservingtheircountiesinavarietyofwaysconsistentwithsupporting suchtechnology.Otherareasforpossibleplacementofsupportedtechnologyincludedlaw firms,lawschools,bingohalls,seniorcenters,andbarberandbeautyshops.Itisalsonoted thatinsomeareas,accesstotheinternetforfamilieshasbeenincreasedbytheexistence oftabletsandcomputersprovidedbyschooldistricts.
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Explorehowtomakeself-helpmoreviable
ThisinitiativewasbrokenoutasaseparateconsiderationattheendoftheStrategic PlanningCommitteeonMarch19.Thefact-findingandresearchthatbegantheplanning processuncoveredaconcernthatself-helpwasofteninadequate,particularlywhenthe adversepartyisrepresentedbyalawyer.Wherebothpartiesareunrepresentedinafamily lawmatter,itwasnotedthatthereisanopportunityforthedominantpartyinarelationship totakeadvantageoftheotherpartyinreachingan“agreed-upon”settlement.
Theissuehadbeendiscussedasapartoftheinitiativerelatedtoincreasingtheavailability oflawyersforfullrepresentation.Itwasfelt,however,thatitshouldhaveitsownfocus, becausenationallyandinTexas,self-helpisabigpartofaccesstojustice.Moreover,the discussionintheMarch19meetingstronglysupportedtheimportanceofhavingarobust continuumofservicesfromself-helpto“souptonuts”representation,andthatnoneshould beslighted.Theconcernaboutself-helpsometimesbeinginadequateledtoitbeinglooked atfromtheperspectiveofwaystoovercomeitsweaknessesandmakeitmoreviable.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Supportastudyofthefactorsthatmakeself-helpeffective.Thediscussionofthe initiativetoincreasetheavailabilityoflawyerstoprovidefullrepresentationnotedthe potentialvalueofastudyofthefactorsthatsupportthesuccessofself-representedpersons inachievingtheirgoalinthecontextofadisputeorotherlegalneed.Thatisapertinent questioninbothlitigationandoutsideofit.Itwillbeimportanttodeterminewhatstudies mayhavebeenundertakenalreadytoanswerthequestion.Itmayalsobepossible,in concertwithoneormorelegalaidprovidersinthestate,todevelopastudythatfollowsup withindividualswhowerenotofferedfullrepresentationtodetermineiftheywereableto resolvetheirproblemoraccomplishtheirobjective.Suchastudymaybedesignedto isolatethefactorsthatareassociatedwithsuccessorfailureinsuchsituations.Those insightsinturncanbeusedtosupportself-helpstrategiesthatwillhaveahigherlikelihood ofsuccessforuserstoresolvetheirissues.
Examinethesuccessfuluseofcourtnavigatorsinotherstatesandencouragetheir adoptioninTexas,whereappropriate. Aconceptthathasgainedtractioninsomestates istheuseofcourtnavigatorswhoseroleistohelpunrepresentedlitigantseffectively navigatetheproceduralandsubstantiverequirementsofappearingincourt.Judgesnoted inthefact-findingandresearchstageoftheplanningprocessthatunrepresentedlitigants oftenstruggleinunderstandingthebasicrequirementsofpresentingtheircaseandmoving itforwardtothedetrimentofcourtroomefficiencyandthelitigants’abilitytogetajust result.
Supportincreasedjudicialeducationregardingtreatmentofunrepresentedlitigants. Therecanbeadifficultbalanceamongtheneedforjudicialefficiency,assuringthefair treatmentofunrepresentedlitigantsandmaintainingjudicialimpartiality.Somejudgessee theirresponsibilitytoencompassassuringunrepresentedlitigantsgetfairtreatment,while othersseetheneedforimpartialitytoinhibitanyinterventiononbehalfofastruggling,
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Encouragewideruseoflawyersforlimitedrepresentationtoassistlitigantstohandle theircasewithprofessionalhelpatkeystages,whilehandlingthematterontheirown whentheyareable.
Severalofthestrategiessuggestedintheinitiativetoincreasetheavailabilityoflawyers involveapproachesthatinvolveacombinationofself-helpanddirectsupportofalawyer throughlow-feelawfirmsandincreaseduseofdiscretetasksareunbundled representation.Theymayprovideamiddlegroundbetweenfullrepresentationand unsupportedself-help.27 Licensedparaprofessionals,asrecommendedbythe Commission,mayalsohavearoletoplayprovidingsupportforunrepresentedlitigants andothersusingself-helpremedies.28
Lawschools
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee
Amongthemanylawschooldeansandclinicalprofessorsinterviewedasapartofthe fact-findingandresearchportionofstrategicplanning,therewasgeneralrecognition thattheCommissioncanfruitfullyplayanassertiveroleconveningthelawschoolsand coordinatinginitiativesthatwillbenefitaccesstojusticeinthestate.Thereisuniversal agreementamongthelawschoolsthatanimportantresponsibilityoflegaleducationis toimpartanappreciationforaccesstojusticeandfortheprofessionalobligationsthat lawyershavetosociety,includingtheirprobonoresponsibilities.
Recently,attheinvitationofHarrietMiers,theCommission’sChair,thelawschool deans,andothershaveparticipatedinonlinemeetings.Theconnectionswhichhave beenmadethroughthosemeetingswillsupportfuturestrategiesinvolvingthelaw schools,iftheCommissiondecidestopursuethem.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Itwasconfirmedthatclinicsareexpensiveforlawschools.Baylorusesadjunct professorstosupervisestudents.Itdependsonthejudgewhetherastudentcanappear incourtwithouttheresponsibleattorneybeingpresent.
Eveniftheycannotparticipateinaclinic,theverypopularpovertylawcourseatBaylor hasatremendousimpactonlawstudents,particularlythosewhohavenotexperienced poverty.Thecoursedoesnotduplicatewhatacliniccanteach,butitcangivestudents
27 Theyarediscussedinthisreportinthesectiononincreasingtheavailabilityoflawyersfor representation.Seethediscussiononpp.5-6.
28 Seethediscussiononp.6.
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage17 unrepresentedlitigant.Theviabilityofself-helpremediesisdependentinpartonthe assurancethattheywillinfactassistproselitigantstoasserttheirinterestseffectivelyand judicialtrainingcanhelpassuretheproperbalance.
Itisveryexpensivetouselawschoolstoservelow-incomepersons,becauseofthe manyotherpurposestheyserve,inparticulareducatingstudents.
AcommenttotherankingsurveycompletedatthecloseoftheMarchmeetingstated: “Someofthese(lawschools)cutacrossmanyoftheseareas.Weshouldkeepthisin mindinprioritizingourinitiativesandintegratingtheworkoftheworkinggroups.”
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Accesstojusticecurriculum.Therewaswideagreementamongthelawschool intervieweesthatapossibleprojectfortheCommissioninconcertwithlawschoolswould betosupportandcoordinatethedevelopmentofanaccesstojusticemodulethatcouldbe usedbyalltenofthelawschools.ItwasdisclosedduringtheStrategicPlanning CommitteethatalawschoolsubcommitteeheadedbyDeanTobenhasbeguntacklingthe developmentofapovertylawcourseforlawschools.
ProBono.Texaslawschoolsencourage–andinthecaseoffivelawschools,require–probonoparticipationbytheirlawstudents.Severalwayswereidentifiedthatthe Commissioncansupportprobonoeffortsatthestate’slawschools.Thefirstisaconvening roletoorchestratethesharingofsuccessfulprobonopoliciesandpracticesamongthe schools.Second,theCommissioncanhelpidentifylocalprobonoopportunitiesforlaw schoolstudentsthatservelow-incomecommunities.
LegalClinics.Allofthelawschoolsofferanopportunityfortheirstudentstoparticipate inalegalclinicasapartoftheirlegaleducation.Someclinicsareaimedatservinglowincomepersons,likelandlord-tenant,familylaw,consumerprotection,immigrationand veteransrights.Severalhaveinnocenceclinics.TheUNTDallasCollegeofLawoperates twoCommunityLawyeringCentersinlow-incomeneighborhoodsinconjunctionwith LegalAidofNorthWestTexas.Theyprovideservicesinlandlord-tenant,familylaw,child support,childcustody,immigrationandwillsandprobate.
Manyfeltthatclinicsarethemosteffectivehands-onwaytoeducatelawstudentsandthat participatinginthemcanhavealifelongimpactontheircommitmenttopublicservice work.Theyareachallenge,however,inthattheyarethemostexpensivewaytoeducate.
SeveralapproacheswereidentifiedbywhichtheCommissionmightassistinincreasing theavailabilityofclinics.Sincethehighercostofclinicsresultsfromthesupervisory responsibilitiesoftheclinicalprofessors,theCommissioncouldfacilitatehavinglargelaw firms“adopt”aclinicandprovidesupervisionforthelawschoolclinicians.
TheCommissioncanalsoseekachangeinthecourtruleregardingclinicalpracticeto increasethenumberoflawschoolcliniciansaprofessorcansupervise.
TexasAccesstoJusticeCommissionStrategicPlanningApri2024 ReportandrecommendationsofStrategicPlanningCommitteePage18 anunderstandingofthestructureofpoverty.Thisisagenerationthatreallywantsto makeadifference.
Internshipsandexternships.Lawschoolsalsoprovidetheirstudentswithopportunities tobeplacedinlegalaid,governmentlaw,andpublicdefenderofficesandotherplaces wheretheygainhands-onexperienceandareexposedtoaccesstojusticeissues.Paid externshipswerenotedasawaytoplacelawstudentsinruralareaswiththehopethatsome mightfindruralpracticeattractiveupongraduation.
Structuralandoperationalissues
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee
TheReportidentifiedseveralstructuralandoperationalissuesthattheCommission faces.Thoseincludedthedegreetowhichitmeetstheleadershipexpectationsofthe SupremeCourt,thestrengthsandchallengeswithitsprimarystrategicrelationships, andsomeoperationalissues.Manyofthechallenges,particularlythoseinvolving relationshipswithotherinstitutions,maybeaddressedthroughthisplanningprocess.
Somewhowereinterviewed,however,feltthatitmightbebeneficialtoengagedirectly inconversationsabouttheCommission’smission,vision,andmodeofoperation. SomefeltthattheCommissionshouldformallyevaluatethedegreetowhichithas accomplishedthechargesassignedtoitbytheSupremeCourt.Therewassome sentimentthatthetimeisrighttohavearetreat.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee:
TheCommissiondoeshaveanorientationmanualthatitgivestonewmembers.The concernexpressedaboutnewmembersnotbeingsufficientlyorientedsuggeststhatit wouldbebeneficialtohaveanhour-longin-personorientationaswell–perhapsright beforeeachnewmember’sfirstmeeting.Themanualwasdistributedtoallmembers shortlyaftertheMarch19meeting.
Aretreatmightbeveryvaluableifstrategicallyscheduledduringtheplanningprocess, butwithoutthoughtfulconsiderationandcarefulplanningitcouldbeawasteoftime andresources.Itwouldneedtobeaveryintentionaldecisionastotimingandsize.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
SupremeCourtOrder.ConsiderwhethertorequesttheSupremeCourt’storevisitand possiblyreviseitsOrder.
HoldaRetreat.Attherightplaceandtherighttime,aretreatmightbeappropriate. Amongthethingstoconsiderare:
ReevaluationofwhethertheCommission’sstatedmissionandwhetheritfitswith theCommission’sactivities,particularlyastheyevolveasaresultofthisplanning process.
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ConsiderationofwhatisthepropertargetincomegroupfortheCommission’s work,thefocusofwhichhasbeen“thepoor,”whicharedefinedbydifferent povertyguidelines.Thequestionwassometimesraisedintermsofabroader questionwhethertheCommission’spurviewshouldincludemoderate-incomeas wellaslow-incomepersons.
Discussionofwhetheritisdesirabletomaintainthecurrentstructureandwhether thecompositionoftheCommissionprovidesabroadenoughspectrumofopinion andinput,oriftheneedcouldbeaddressedbyamorerobustCommitteestructure. ThelattercouldinvolvepersonswhoarenotCommissionersandincludeabroad spectrumofexperienceandinterests.
ExaminationofwhethertheCommissionshouldhavemoreinstitutional independencefromtheStateBarinlightofthelimitationsimposedbythe5th CircuitDecisionsandwhetherthestaffingstructuremightbechanged.Acomment totherankingsurveycompletedattheendofthemeetingstated:“Thoughnot discussedinthecall,‘structuralandoperationalissues’needtoincludediscussion abouttherelationshipwiththeStateBarandthechallenges/conflictsofshared staff.”
Clientinvolvement
KeypointsfromtheRevisedReportandRecommendationstotheStrategic PlanningCommittee
Acommonthemeamongclientsinterviewedwasaperceivedlackofclarityaboutthe roleofclientcouncilsandclienteligiblemembersofproviders’boardsofdirectors.In thepast,therehavebeenrobusttrainingsandorganizationalmeetingsofclientcouncil andclientboardmemberslocallyandstatewide,butthosehavefallenoffinrecent years,inpartduetothepandemic.
Thegoalofhavingmembersoftheclientcommunityonboardsofdirectorsistoensure thatastheboardsetspoliciesandoverseestheoperationoftheprogram,itisawareof theperceptionsandneedsoflow-incomepersonsbeingserved.Clienttrainingshave supportedclientleadersintheirleadershiproleandeducatedthemaboutthe possibilitiesandlimitationsofthelawinresolvingtheirissues.Thetrainingsalso empoweredclientstobecommunityadvocatesforsupportforlegalaid,including testifyingbeforethelegislatureinsupportoflegalaidfunding.Clientleaderscanalso beasourceofinformationaboutnewandemergingissuesaffectinglow-income communitiesthatmightbeaddressedbylegalaidorganizations.
ObservationsmadeintheMarchmeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Thereisaneedtoeducateclientsregardingwhatlegalservicesisaboutandwhatto expectwhentheyareserved.Sometimes,clientshave“over-expectations”ofwhat legalaidprogramsandthelawcando.Clientboardmembershaveoftenservedasa liaisonbetweenpeopleseekingassistanceandthelegalaidprogram.
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Clienttrainingsusedtobeheldfrequently,butthathasfallenoff.NLADAstillhasa clienttrackatitsmeetings.TheconceptofaClientBillofRightswasraisedduring interviewswithclientrepresentativesandcouldbeavehicleforclarifying expectations.TheroleofclientscouldbethefocusofasessionatthePovertyLaw Conference.Itwouldprovideanetworking,aswellasatrainingopportunity.Sucha sessioncouldbedevelopedrelativelyeasily,withthesupportofthelegalaid programs.
Potentialstrategiestoaccomplishtheinitiative
Restoreclienttrainings.Therewasastronginterestonthepartofclientleaderswho wereinterviewedinrestoringthetraditionofclienttrainingsandorganizational meetings.Suchtrainingscouldaddressitemssuchastheroleofaboardmember,financial oversight,howtoreadandusestatisticalreportsregardingcaseworkoftheprogram,the roleofclientcouncils,andhowtocommunicateandconnectwithorganizationsserving thelow-incomecommunity.
ClientBillofRights.TheCommission,withtheparticipationofclientsandperhapsin concertwiththeFoundation,coulddevelopandadoptaClients’BillofRights.
CONCLUSION
ThegoalofthemeetingoftheStrategicPlanningCommitteeonMarch19,2024wasto agreeonwhichstrategicinitiativesshouldberecommendedtotheCommissionforits adoptionasitsAprilmeeting.UponadoptionbytheCommission,workinggroupswillbe recruitedtodevelopspecificstrategiestoaccomplishtheagreed-uponinitiatives.The workinggroupswillbeaskedtodetermine:
Theobjectivefortheinitiative(WhatwillbedifferentforaccesstojusticeinTexas iftheinitiativeissuccessful?);
Theactionstepstobetakentoaccomplishtheobjective;
Whowillberesponsibleforeachactionstep;
Thetimetablefortheirachievement;and
Howsuccessinaccomplishingtheobjectivewillbemeasured.
TheworkinggroupswillpresenttheirrecommendationstotheStrategicPlanning CommitteeinAugust.TheStrategicPlanningCommitteemayasksomeoftheworking groupstoreviseorfurtherdeveloptheirreportandrecommendations,iftheobjectives, strategicsteps,assignmentofresponsibilities,timetable,andmeanstomeasuresuccessare notclear.
Theworkinggroups’reportswillbeconsideredbythefullCommissioninitsOctober meeting.BasedontheCommission’sdiscussioninitsOctobermeeting,afinalstrategic planwillbedevelopedinthemonthofNovemberwithacleardelineationofobjectives, actionstepsandbywhom,timetableandmeanstomeasuresuccessforeachinitiative.The strategicplanwillbeconsideredandadoptedbytheCommissioninitsDecembermeeting.
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