Conference Background and Agenda
A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY
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Informal National Survey of Ethical Opinions Related to "Discrete Task Lawyering" - by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN), - Updated October 2003 |
Update on Court Consideration of Self-Representation Litigation:
August 2000 – Conference of State Court Administrators approves “Position Paper on Self-Represented Litigation”. The paper offers 11 recommendations, including the formation of a joint task force of the Conference of Chief Justices and COSCA to develop an action plan.
November 2001 - the joint task force of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators held a 2-day conclave soliciting input from national experts on pro se litigation, including representatives from the Legal Services Corporation, the American Bar Association, the National Association of IOLTA Programs, the National Institute of Court Justice; state initiatives through the California Administrative Office of the Courts and the Maryland Legal Assistance Network; and consultants working on the issues.
July 2002 - The annual meeting of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators report sponsored a half day panel on "Self-Represented Litigation: Where We've Been, Where We Are, Where We Are Going" Contact the National Center for State Courts for updates on the status of actions taken subsequent to the annual conference. Phone: (800)616-6164
August 2002 - The American Bar Association's standing committee on the delivery of legal services convened a public hearing on Access to Justice. A report, "New Model for the Delivery of Legal Services" (PDF) has been released and includes testimony on the need for unbundled legal services. The report contains findings on
- Scope and Types of Legal Problems
- Institutional Responses to the Demand for Legal Services
- Barriers Impeding the Responses to Demand for Legal Services, and
- Solutions to the Impediments
October 2003 - The Modest Means Task Force of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation published a "Handbook on Limited Scope Legal Assistance." The 155 page report, includes sample limited retainer agreements, practice profiles and a discussion of issues.