Wisconsin Lawyer: Wisconsin Lawyer November 2000: AR4: Improve access to justice:

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November 01, 2000

Wisconsin Lawyer November 2000: AR4: Improve access to justice

Improve access to justice

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2000 Annual Report

1. Increase and diversify participation in Bar activities.

2. Increase public understanding of citizens' legal rights and responsibilities.

3. Enhance public understanding of the administration of justice.

4. Improve access to justice.

5. Improve member education that is responsive to changing member needs.

6. Improve member service that is responsive to changing member needs.

7. Use technology to improve education, communication, member services, cost-effective access to legal resources, and effective management.

8. Evaluate and improve our own governance and administration to best effectuate our mission.

9. Advocate for the integrity and effectiveness of the legal profession.

10. Support and promote attorneys as problem solvers.

The State Bar worked with the Equal Justice Coalition and the Wisconsin Legislature to secure federal funds allocated at the state level to provide civil legal assistance by lawyers to low-income residents. As a result, the 1999-2001 Biennial Budget Bill included $100,000 per year for civil legal services. Outside its legislative efforts, the State Bar is active in several programs to increase access to justice for everyone - from low-income residents, to small businesses, to aspiring artists.

Team Pro Bono on the move. The State Bar launched Team Pro Bono to increase the accessibility of legal services to low-income persons in Wisconsin, to instill in lawyers a sense of self-satisfaction, to enhance the public image of the legal profession, and to improve statewide coordination of legal services efforts.

So far, 23 Wisconsin counties and all substantive legal practice areas are represented on Team Pro Bono. Each team "position" provides a different type of volunteer opportunity. Players provide direct representation, coaches serve as mentors, managers lead a specific pro bono project, and sponsors make a financial contribution to the Equal Justice Coalition, Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, or a legal services office in Wisconsin.

Business Law Section wins SBA legal assistance award. In recognition of its contributions to the state's economic development, the State Bar's Business Law Section was honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration with Wisconsin's 2000 Small Business Legal Assistance of the Year Award.

The section's Business and Nonprofit Business Assistance program provides up to two free hours of introductory counseling to small businesses and qualifying nonprofit organizations. Since the program began in 1995, 195 Wisconsin attorneys have donated their services to this program, helping more than 2,500 businesses and nonprofit organizations.

New program provides creative pro bono opportunities. Wisconsin attorneys can fulfill their pro bono obligation by working with the Wisconsin Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts group. The new group pairs lawyers with artists and arts groups confronted with issues in intellectual property, tax, contracts, basic business law, licensing, commercial leasing, and estate planning. This program was developed in cooperation with the Wisconsin Assembly of Local Artists and the State of Wisconsin Arts Board.

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