Page 258 - 2024 Orientation Manual

in courts throughout Louisiana. Through its work, the Language Access Committee has become
more aware of other tangential and collateral issues that could benefit from broader review and
support of accessibility issues. Thus, in 2023, the ATJ Commission approved the broadening of
the committee’s work and renaming it the Accessibility Committee to support issues of language
access and physical disability. The Committee is currently shaping its mission after broadening its

scope of work to include all manner of impediments to meaningful access to the courts.

Modest Means Committee, Chair Virginia Listach
The Modest Means Committee is tasked with addressing the limited access to legal representation
for persons falling just above the income eligibility requirements for free legal services but priced
out of traditional market rate legal services. To increase access to legal representation for the more
than 1.3 million individuals considered modest means in Louisiana, the Committee created an
online legal directory that lists attorneys who offer reduced-cost legal services - ranging from $75-
$150 per hour (or the flat fee equivalent) - to people falling at or below 400% of the Federal
Poverty Level (FPL). Those who are income eligible may view the attorneys’ profiles and contact
him or her directly to inquire about legal services at the reduced rate.

In creating the Directory, the Modest Means Committee surveyed LSBA members and found that
a high percentage were offering affordable legal services to people falling at or below 400% of the
FPL. To join the Directory, attorneys complete a CLE, fill out a brief survey that identifies the
types of affordable legal options the attorney offers to people with limited means, and complete
an online application. To date, 71 attorneys are listed, covering 17 practice areas and 64 parishes.
Nearly 20,000 application requests have been submitted to view the Directory since April 2018
averaging 300-500 per month.

The Committee also develops resources to assist attorneys in sustainably offering affordable legal
services. Such resources include the Limited Scope Representation Toolkit, which provides best
practices, guides, sample letters and forms for attorneys who agree to represent a client for part of
but not all of their case.

Self-Represented Litigants/Uniform Forms Committee, Chair Judge Patricia “Patti”
Oppenheim
This Committee fosters efforts that support self-represented litigants by working with the judiciary,
local pro bono and legal aid organizations, clerks of court, statewide technology personnel, and
other justice community stakeholders on the implementation of locally appropriate self-help
initiatives. This includes the creation of standardized forms and template resources, referral
information, and ongoing support for local self-help centers. The Committee’s three main
initiatives include: hosting annual access to justice training for judges and court staff; increasing
the availability of civil legal access points in civil legal deserts; and creating additional plain
language forms and instructions. The Committee continues to work with the ATJ Commission’s
Technology Committee and the Supreme Court’s Technology Commission on these various
initiatives, and together, they have released automated forms for 103 Divorces and Adult Name
Change. Additionally automated forms that are forthcoming include: 102 Divorces, Petition for

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