Legal Aid in Michigan Presenters Jennifer S. Bentley Aaron V. Burrell Lori A. Buiteweg Joseph P. McGill

What is Legal Aid Provides free civil legal assistance to low-income persons: annual income below 125% of federal poverty guidelines ($25,525 for a family of three) – ability to go up to 200%; Provides full range of legal assistance – self-help centers, advice, negotiation, and full representation; and Helps families, children, veterans, seniors, individuals who are ill or disabled, and victims of domestic violence. Jennifer Bentley

Federally Funded Legal Aid Offices in Michigan Lakeshore Legal Aid Legal Aid of Western Michigan Legal Services of Eastern Michigan Legal Services of Northern Michigan Michigan Advocacy Program Michigan Indian Legal Services Jennifer Bentley

Other Legal Aid Programs STATEWIDE PROGRAMS Community Legal Resources Elder Law of Michigan Farmworker Legal Services Michigan Elder Justice Initiative Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Michigan Indian Legal Services Michigan Legal Help Michigan Poverty Law Program REGIONAL and SPECIALTY PROGRAMS Jennifer Bentley

Need for Legal Aid and Priorities There are approximately 2 million low-income individuals in Michigan who qualify for civil legal aid. Legal aid offices are not able to help everyone who qualifies and needs help. Priority areas include homeless prevention, stabilization of families harmed by domestic violence, benefits for individuals with disabilities, and protection for older adults. There are many compelling stories of the need for legal aid. Jennifer Bentley

Accessibility Coordinated telephone hotline and triage system; Network of self-help centers; Online intake and in-person intake within communities; Community partners and court projects; and Collaborative projects. Jennifer Bentley

Sources of Funding for Legal Aid Jennifer Bentley

Unmet Need for Funding Jennifer Bentley

Voluntary Pro Bono Standard The Voluntary Standard was adopted by the Representative Assembly as a policy of the State Bar of Michigan. Pro bono includes both service and financial donations supporting legal services for the poor: Service: 30 hours or 3 cases of pro bono representation each year; Donations: $300 or $500 for those lawyers whose income allows a higher contribution each year. Lori Buiteweg

Importance of Pro Bono Services Pro bono services help meet the critical need for legal services. Pro bono attorneys in Michigan provided more than 38,000 hours of free legal help to low-income individuals in 2015. Lawyers and law firms in Michigan contributed $1,062,646 to the Access to Justice Fund in 2015. Lori Buiteweg

Pro Bono Programs in Michigan The State Bar of Michigan, Michigan State Bar Foundation, and Michigan’s legal aid programs partner to recruit, train, support, and recognize pro bono lawyers. Menu of Pro Bono Opportunities in Michigan: Michigan legal aid programs offer a wide-range of pro bono opportunities for lawyers. More pro bono opportunities are available through the online Pro Bono Manual at michbar.org. Lori Buiteweg

Pro Bono Programs in Michigan Pro bono programs administered by SBM: Pro bono lawyer panels provide services to the low-income clients of the Patent Project, Tax Program, and QDRO Program. Malpractice insurance for pro bono provides free coverage to pro bono attorneys. MI Free Legal Answers, a pro bono website using technology to close the justice gap (currently serving Genesee County). Lori Buiteweg

Pro Bono Programs in Michigan Access to Justice (ATJ) Campaign administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Financial contributions to the ATJ Fund support civil legal aid programs. Michigan lawyers have contributed more than $16 million to the ATJ Fund since its inception. Lori Buiteweg

Pro Bono Programs in Michigan Recognition of Pro Bono Service Circle of Excellence recognizes firms and corporations that fully comply with the Voluntary Standard. A Lawyer Helps promotes the pro bono and community service contributions of Michigan lawyers. Local recognition in the community through legal aid programs. Lori Buiteweg

Legal Services Corporation Funding at Risk The President has proposed a complete elimination of the Legal Services Corporation. LSC is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. LSC provides annual funding to legal aid organizations in every county of every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. LSC has long enjoyed broad bipartisan support – justice for all is an American value. Aaron Burrell

Legal Services Corporation Funding in Michigan LSC provides 10.8 million dollars to legal aid programs in Michigan. 35% - 40% of the funding for legal aid in Michigan is from LSC, and the percentage is higher for rural areas. LSC funding is an essential building block to our legal aid delivery system in Michigan. A delegation from Michigan is going to ABA Day in D.C. on Tuesday to meet with Congressional members about the importance of LSC funding. Aaron Burrell

ABA Day 2017 State Bar of Michigan Delegation Jennifer S. Bentley, Executive Director, MSBF Peter Cunningham, Assistant Executive Director, Director of Governmental Relations, SBM Judge John A. Hallacy, 37th Circuit Court Thomas W. Linn, Chairman Emeritus, Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone Robert G. Mossel, Counsel, Ford Motor Credit Company Reginald M. Turner, Jr., Clark Hill, Past President of SBM With support from Dykema Gossett D.C. office of Government Policy. Aaron Burrell

ABA Day 2016 State Bar of Michigan Delegation Aaron Burrell

Social Media Campaign for LSC Funding Aaron Burrell

Why LSC Funding Matters More Than Ever Summary Talking Points for ABA Day: Provides critical constituent services; Maximizes limited resources through innovations and collaboration; Continuing an effective public-private partnership; and Protecting access to justice – a fundamental American value. Aaron Burrell

What Can You Do to Help? As Bar Leaders, you have an important role and voice. Help spread the word about the important work of legal aid. Contact your Congressional members and encourage them to support LSC funding. Encourage your local bar association members to contact their Congressional members. Volunteer with and support your local legal aid office. Donate to the Access to Justice Campaign. Aaron Burrell