Modest Means Referral Service

That is entirely up to you. The State Bar cannot set a schedule of reduced hourly rates and retainer amounts for the Modest Means Program. We can direct you to legal services organizations and resources for more information about the use of sliding scale fees and limited scope representation to manage costs. Panel attorneys may charge a lower hourly rate, a low fixed fee, waive or require a smaller advance of fees, or make some other arrangement.

The reduced fees will differ from attorney to attorney, but should be substantially lower than the attorney’s regular rates to accommodate the financial situation of the individual client. The amount of any advanced fees will be determined by the attorney, but should also be substantially less than is normally charged.

LRS staff will attempt to find an attorney in as convenient a location for the caller as possible, selecting from a database of attorneys on the Modest Means Panel. The database can be searched by the type of attorney needed and the geographic location of the caller or where the court is located.

You are not obligated to accept referred cases, and after the initial consultation, the client is not required to retain the referred attorney.

The State Bar does not charge a fee for making a referral; however, you may choose to charge a $20 fee for the initial half-hour consultation. At that point, you will need to discuss fees with the referred client and agree on the details of what they can afford to pay and what you are able to accept as payment for your legal services.

Eligibility is determined by the client’s gross household income, including earned and unearned income. Child support and alimony payments are the only expenses that may be deducted from gross income to determine eligibility. We will also look at what liquid assets an applicant may have that could be used to pay for the requested legal assistance. When clients apply, the information they will need to provide includes gross household income from all sources (i.e., wages or benefits such as Social Security disability or SSI, worker’s compensation, unemployment or VA benefits), bank account balances, and the value of any stocks, bonds, CDs and/or retirement accounts. Below is the basic income eligibility range that we will be using:

No. The Modest Means Program is not a free service. The program is designed for people who have some ability to pay for an attorney, but who cannot afford an attorney’s full fees. Persons who need free legal services will be referred to another legal services program if possible.

The Modest Means Program refers cases in the following areas of practice:

Bankruptcy:
Chapter 7
Chapter 13
Foreclosure Defense

Criminal Law:
Misdemeanors
Ordinance Violations
Pre-charging consultations
Traffic Offenses

Consumer Law:
Construction Contracts
Consumer Fraud
Contracts
Identity Theft
Insurance Policy Disputes
Small Claims

Probate:
Power of Attorney
Wills

Family Law:
Child Support
Cohabital Property Division
Custody
Divorce
Grandparent’s rights
Guardianships
Maintenance
Paternity
Termination of Parental Rights
Visitation

Generally, any case that may result in a lawsuit for a monetary award or damages is not eligible for referral (personal injury, medical malpractice, etc.).