Page 209 - 2020OrientationBOG

Access to Justice Fund

The Access to Justice Fund is an LBF Fund which supports specific access to justice needs
related to at least one of the following issues: Statewide Technology, Statewide Intake and
Referral, or Disaster Response.
The ATJ Committee identifies eligible projects and recommends allocation of funds. The
source of funding is an LSBA dues check-off which allows attorneys to make a financial
contribution to civil legal aid. In past years, the majority of these funds have supported the
statewide uniform cases management system and the Louisiana Civil Justice Center.

Pro Hac Vice Fee Increase

The Access to Justice Committee was successful in encouraging the Louisiana Supreme
Court to revise their Rule XVII Section 13A(4)(ii), increasing the pro hac vice fee filed by
out-of-state lawyers not licensed to practice law in Louisiana from $250 to $450 per
admission. The collected funds are used to support the work of Louisiana’s Legal Service
Corporation funded civil legal services programs. The specifics are included in an
agreement between the Louisiana Bar Foundation and the Louisiana Disciplinary Board
(LADB), which collects these fees. Funds are distributed to the beneficiaries annually
through the LBF’s grant process.

Language Access Committee, Chair Professor Luz Molina

This committee works to support the ongoing efforts of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Court
Interpreters Project and to expand efforts to ensure litigants in Louisiana’s court are not denied
due process because of an inability to communicate with court personnel. The Committee
developed a revised Attorneys’ Reference Guide for engaging interpreters, to give attorneys
information about using interpreters in legal matters. Two surveys have been conducted to learn
more about interpreters’ and attorneys’ experiences in the court system. Volunteer attorneys
completed a review of language access approaches used in select states. Using this review as well
as survey data, the Committee plans to identify best practices for recommendation to the
Commission. The Committee and members individually have worked closely with the Deputy
Judicial Administrator for Language Access on a memorandum of agreement between the
Louisiana Supreme Court and Department of Justice. The development of a Language Access Plan
is part of the MOA. The Committee, where possible, will support the implementation of the
Language Access Plan.

Modest Means Committee, Chair Virginia Listach

In 2016, Commission members unanimously agreed to form the Modest Means Committee, 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 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 Line. Those who are income eligible

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