ADVOCACY FOR INCREASED FUNDING:

LAAC actively advocates on behalf of legal services organizations regarding the need for additional funding from all possible sources.  Please click here for information on LAAC's current advocacy efforts.

• Increasing IOLTA Funding – LAAC was a key component of the collaborative statewide advocacy effort resulting in the successful passage of AB 1723 (Judiciary), which will require banks to offer the same interest rates on IOLTA accounts that are offered on comparable non-IOLTA accounts. Estimates are that over time the comparability requirements could double the existing IOLTA funds!
• New Funding Sources – In 2007, LAAC played a key role in the implementation of AB 2301 (Judiciary), which will allow individual attorneys to make voluntary charitable donations to legal services through the 2008 State Bar dues bill and collection process.

 

OTHER ADVOCACY:

 

In 2007, LAAC continued its successful advocacy efforts on behalf of the legal services community. This work will continue to be one of LAAC’s highest priorities in 2008.

• State Bar’s Report on Frye v. Tenderloin Housing Clinic – LAAC has taken a lead role in organizing the legal services community’s response to the State Bar’s report to the California Supreme Court, as mandated by the Supreme Court's order. LAAC submitted comments on behalf of member programs in opposition to the report, which recommends that nonprofits providing legal services should be regulated by the State Bar.
• US v. CRLA – Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP represented LAAC on a pro bono basis and filed an amicus brief on behalf of member programs in a federal case against CRLA in which the Office of the Inspector General seeks to enforce a broad subpoena requiring, among other items, the release of client names and other confidential information.
• Other Amicus Letters and Briefs – LAAC submitted an amicus letter to the California Supreme Court supporting the request for review in Guillen v. Schwarzenegger, arguing that the Court should review the Appellate Court's decision to dissolve the writ that had granted a cost of living increase to over one million CalWORKS recipients. LAAC also participated in two amicus actions brought by the Impact Fund involving programs' ability to recover attorneys fees and expert witness costs in successful litigation: Olson v. Automobile Club of Southern California and Vasquez v. State of California
• Other Legislative Advocacy – LAAC also participated in successful advocacy to create additional judgeships (AB 159). Although not successful this year, LAAC will continue its work on language interpreters in the courts, fee waivers, and funding for statewide LRAP in 2008.
• Pilot Project – The 2007 Governor’s proposed budget included $5 million for a pilot project to increase representation in civil matters. LAAC worked closely with the legislature, as well as the State Bar of California and the Administrative Office of the Courts, including staffing a Joint Task Force, to support this budget item and determine how to best implement such pilots. Despite all best efforts, the idea did not survive the budget process. LAAC, the State Bar and the AOC are continuing to develop this idea, including thinking through what types of research might help to build greater support for the needed increase in representation for low-income Californians.

 

TRAININGS:

 

This year LAAC undertook its most ambitious training calendar to date, with multiple successful and comprehensive conferences around the state. LAAC also expanded its series of trainings using online meeting technology.

• Bringing Support Center resources to more rural areas – LAAC offered a Traveling Trainings in June of 2007 in Fresno. This conference brought trainers from 21 different Support Centers to local programs, reaching over 100 legal services advocates.
• Family Law Conference – LAAC has begun planning its 4th Family Law Conference in coordination with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). It will be held in February 2008 in Los Angeles. Over 150 legal services advocates, pro bono attorneys, and court staff will come together for two full days of panels and networking.
• Directors of Litigation & Advocacy (DoLA) – LAAC also convened two DoLA meetings in 2007: Los Angeles in March and San Francisco in December. These meetings brought together over 60 legal services staff for substantive trainings as well as brainstorming sessions on issues of statewide concern.
• Expanded “Armchair Training” series on issues affecting low-income seniors – These trainings use online meeting and conference call technology to offer high-quality, relevant MCLE trainings over the lunch hour that advocates can access without requiring any travel time or expense. LAAC has held over 15 Armchair Trainings since they were first launched in November 2006.
• Online Trainings for Law Students – LAAC collaborated with the Public Interest Clearinghouse to provide public interest law students throughout the state with free online trainings to support their summer internships. One hour trainings on a variety of topics were offered each week of June 2007.

 

PROGRAM SUPPORT:

 

LAAC continues to build statewide structures to allow legal services programs to coordinate and collaborate.

• LAAC’s Sections – LAAC provides vital coordination work for its four sections: (i) Directors of Litigation & Advocacy (DoLA); (ii) the LSC-funded Project Directors Association; (iii) the Support Center Section; and (iv) the Section for Senior Legal Services Providers (SLSP).
• Online Legal Services Directory – LAAC continues to maintain the online Legal Services Directory, www.LAACdirectory.org, a searchable database with direct contact information for over 1,700 legal services staff statewide (access available only to staff at LAAC member organizations).
• CALegalAdvocates.org – This year LAAC’s online home for the legal services community grew to over 1,800 members. Its resources include a legal services news section, a rich statewide training calendar, and substantive resources. LAAC will continue to bring the benefits of technology to our community in 2008, including the use of webcasting capability for trainings.
• Brief Banks and Listservs – LAAC continues to collaborate with various advocacy groups within the legal services community to support their work by creating designated listservs, online password-protected brief banks, and more!