Request for Public Comment

Deadline for Comment: May 31, 2007

Because of the significant lack of funding for civil legal services for low-income Californians, AB 2301 was enacted in 2006. That bill authorizes the State Bar to facilitate voluntary contributions to legal services, with the contribution to be included in the Bar's annual fee statement to its members.

The State Bar's Task Force on Lawyer Support for Legal Services is now seeking public comment on its proposed recommendation for implementing AB2301. The Task Force is considering the following proposal to the Board of Governors:

• That the State Bar request a voluntary contribution of $100 in its annual member fee statement, beginning with the fee statement for 2008;
• That the request be prominently displayed, right after the mandatory fees and costs, and that members be given two optional subtotals - one with the voluntary contribution and one without;
• The contributions would establish and support the Justice Gap Fund at the Bar's Legal Services Trust Fund Program.
• The Justice Gap Fund would be distributed to qualified legal services recipients of the Trust Fund Program, based on the statutory formula established in Business and Professions Code Section 6210, et. seq.
• Distribution of the Justice Gap Fund should be reviewed periodically, in conjunction with an analysis of other available funds, to determine if any change in the distribution of these funds may be warranted. As called for in the legislation, the first review would occur after two years of operation.

Click HERE for the full text of the public comment and supporting documents - which can be found in the "Public Comment" section of the State Bar's web site.