Who operates the unbundled project?
How does the "Attorney Listing Work"
What does the Self-Help Center do?
What is the relationship between the Court and the Bar regarding the unbundled project?
Who recruits for the panel?
What is the oversight procedure for the panel?
What types of services do the panel attorneys provide?
Were any changes made to the Rules of Professional Responsibility, Ethics, or Civil Procedure to accommodate the project?
Who refers clients to the panel?

Who operates the unbundled project?

The project is part of the Clark County Family Law Self-Help Center, which is operated by the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, Nevada.

How does the "Attorney Listing Work"?

The Self-Help Center maintains an "Attorney Listing" of lawyers who are willing to be retained for domestic law cases. Each listing contains contact information, languages spoken by the attorney, whether the firm accepts payment plans and credit cards, and whether the attorney is willing to perform unbundled services. The listing currently contains 105 attorneys, 100 of whom are willing to perform unbundled services. The list is not intended as a referral, but as a resource for pro se litigants. After speaking with a person the staff of the Self-Help Center may determine that this person will likely need an attorney. If the staff make that determination they will show the person the "Attorney Listing". The staff with explain unbundled legal services to the person and then show them the listing of attorneys who are willing to provide such services. The staff then instructs the person to read through the list, write down a few names, and then make a few phone calls to the different attorneys when they return home.

What does the Self-Help Center do?

The Self-Help Center provides pro se litigants the tools and information needed to process their cases in the Family Court. The Center has developed a "one-stop shopping" system where litigants can obtain judicially-accepted forms and instructions, complete and notarize the forms, make copies, file paperwork at the Clerk's Office, and deliver copies to the judicial department, all within the court house. The Center also has three computers available to the public so that litigants can create customized documents or complete the Center's standardized forms on-line. The Center's Web site address is http://www.co.clark.nv.us/district_court/self_help_center.htm. The Center's staff also gives referrals to other community agencies. Three of the Center's seven staff members are bilingual (English/Spanish). All services and information are free. There is a nominal charge for the standardized forms and for printing documents from the Center's computers.

What is the relationship between the Court and the Bar regarding the unbundled project?

The Court worked closely with both the State and County bar associations while developing the Self-Help Center. The State Bar was instrumental in the development of the Attorney Listing for the unbundled services portion of the Center. State Bar Counsel issued a memorandum outlining the ethical considerations of unbundled legal services, which allayed concerns of local attorneys. The State Bar also approved the content of the form in the Attorney Listing.

Who recruits for the panel?

The Self-Help Center's Program Manager, who is a licensed Nevada attorney, recruits for the Attorney Listing. This is accomplished primarily through CLE seminars regarding unbundled legal services.

What is the oversight procedure for the panel?

The Attorneys and Self-Help Center customers who use the Attorney Listing understand that the Listing is for informational purposes only. The customer and attorney are free to negotiate fees and scope of services. Any grievances or fee disputes would need to be filed with the State Bar of Nevada.

The State Bar will inform the Center whether an attorney is in "good standing" when the attorney requests to become part of the Attorney Listing. If an attorney is disbarred or suspended, the attorney's information will be removed from the Attorney Listing until the attorney is reinstated by the State Bar.

What types of services do the panel attorneys provide?

Attorneys and Self-Help Center customers negotiate the types of services that the attorney will provide. This can range from a half-hour consultation to full-service representation.

Were any changes made to the Rules of Professional Responsibility, Ethics, or Civil Procedure to accommodate the project?

There were no changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct or Rules of Civil Procedure. As mentioned above, State Bar Counsel issued a memorandum which discussed the ethical rules which are involved with unbundled services. The memorandum approved the "unbundled" concept as long as attorneys continued to obey the ethical rules.

When the Attorney Listing was first proposed, several attorneys expressed concern that the Court would not allow them to withdraw after performance of the unbundled service. The Self-Help Center worked with the judges to draft a local rule (Eighth Judicial District Court Rule 5.28). This rule allows an attorney to automatically withdraw after the unbundled service is completed by filing a Substitution of Attorney.

Who refers clients to the panel?

The vast majority of people who use the Attorney Listing are Self-Help Center customers. Referrals also come from departments within the courthouse such as the Clerk's Office and judicial staff.