New Mexico Legal Aid’s Post

Must read: The Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (#LAIR)'s 2023 Report on Access to Justice, #ATJ, in federal administrative agencies. The report makes it clear that attorneys will not be able to solve the access to justice problem alone. Pro bono lawyers play a huge role. But, we also need to build the capacity of other professionals eager to provide much-needed legal services to low and moderate income people who now confront government bureaucracies alone. Think nurse practitioners for law. "Despite the tireless efforts of legal aid and pro bono attorneys, the persisting justice gap suggests that additional resources for legal aid, coupled with innovation and creative strategies in legal service delivery, are needed to address the needs of low- and moderate-income Americans and those in underserved communities. As this year’s work shows, federal agencies are leading a number of such efforts, including the use of nonlawyer assistance, to expand on the great work of legal aid attorneys, and to make additional help possible in federal administrative proceedings and in other legal systems. These actions can promote a more inclusive democracy, where fair and efficient systems deliver just processes and outcomes, promote confidence in government, secure public safety, and meet the critical legal needs of the American people." Thanks to the LAIR team, Allie Yang-Green, Nikhil Ramnaney, Charlie Gillig, among others https://lnkd.in/eeXsxb9c

Often Legal Aid cases can be complicated and of high value, referring to the LAA guidance if a cost is likely to exceed £25,000 it will then become a high-cost case. Solicitors should keep an eye on their costs especially now that Legal aid certificates have a limitation of £25,000 in family cases. A situation could arise where in an exceptional case the cost is nearing £20,000 then the Solicitor should really think about having the case registered as high costs and apply to the Legal Aid Agency. Some important points to always be aware of in high-cost cases: https://lnkd.in/eY_mS5dj

For many of you who know me, know that I have a special place in my heart for our legal-aid providers. This service to the public is a vocation, undertaken by legal professionals who want to make a difference and access to these services is paramount. Something needs to change so that legal aid firms can continue fighting the good fight. We never know when any of us might be in a situation where we need a legal-aid lawyer. Life changes, things go wrong. It's time something was done so that these firms can continue to operate and look after some of the most vulnerable in our society. https://lnkd.in/eXx2mpdH

An insightful look at how technology is bridging the access-to-justice gap in legal aid. 'Maximizing Efficiency and Equity' by Gwendelyn Daniels showcases the success of Illinois Legal Aid Online's 'Get Legal Help' platform. Daniels' article shares how innovative tech solutions can improve legal service delivery while addressing long-standing challenges in civil legal aid, and provides an important insight into the evolution of legal aid. Check out this, and other articles surrounding the intersection of Technology and the Law, in Volume 49, No. 4 of our Human Rights Magazine. Read HERE ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e2zvTyYQ

Access to justice is an important part of upholding the rule of law. Access must be meaningful and every part of the justice process must be reasonably fair to allow the real issues to be ventilated properly. Funding is a real issue as cases and the associated preparation get more complex. I would argue that the answer remains in properly funded and resourced legal aid, together with proper means testing. People must have reasonable access to counsel of their choice. It is a burden that states must bear to preserve legitimacy.

Almost half a billion dollars in extra funding is needed each year to meet demand for legal assistance in Australia, a new report commissioned by National Legal Aid has found. The Justice on the Brink report found $484m in funding was needed to prevent the threat of “supply failure”, expand the availability of family and civil law services, provide greater access under the means test and increase fees for private lawyers. “On the supply side, we find that chronic underfunding and underpayment is eroding the supply of practitioners willing to undertake Legal Aid work, threatening the viability of services across the country,” the Impact Economics and Policy report found. “As one lawyer working in Indigenous family law put it to us: ‘Societies talk about how important this ‘access to justice’ is, and our justice net is completely overwhelmed.’ This erodes the number, quality and experience of private practitioners delivering legal assistance.” There was also an increasing cohort of people who were not eligible for legal aid, but were in need of support. “Between the very poor and the rich, a large cohort does not have functional access to the legal system they rely on and pay for through their taxes. https://lnkd.in/gcahNzRC

Increased Awareness and Support for Civil Legal Aid In recent coverage from Minnesota Lawyer, the overall gaps in the availability of legal aid nationally and in Minnesota were cited, as well as the nonexistence of the right to counsel in civil cases. These access issues, along with the well-known gap in coverage between rural and urban areas, were discussed at a recent webinar hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA). One of the panelists, Radhika Singh, vice president of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) said that legal aid attorneys should be thought of as “human services providers” because of the ripple effect that civil legal problems can have on the health and well-being of people. In Minnesota specifically, Katy Drahos, access to justice director at the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), noted that statewide access mirrors the nation and that greater Minnesota faces different challenges. “In rural areas, there are fewer attorneys per population and larger service areas. Also, lack of broadband access in some areas can make court appearances challenging for both attorneys and clients. In the metro area, there is a higher volume of cases which makes it tough to meet the need at current funding levels,” Drahos said. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXTw7ujN

The Legal Aid Time Bar Nightmare: A Solicitor's Frustration 😩 Fellow legal professionals, have you ever experienced the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing your hard-earned Legal Aid fees disappear into thin air because of a missed deadline? 😫 Civil Legal Aid accounts often have a ridiculously short three-month window for submission. It's a race against time for solicitors to wrap up the case, gather all the necessary paperwork, and prepare the account for the Legal Aid Board. Missing that deadline means kissing goodbye to your well-deserved remuneration. But fear not! That's where I come in. I'm a law accountant specialising in Legal Aid accounts, and I'm here to take that burden off your shoulders. My promise to you: ⏱ Timely Submissions: I guarantee your Legal Aid accounts will be submitted well before the deadline, ensuring you get paid for your hard work. 💵 Transparent Pricing: My fee is a straightforward 10% of the net value of the account. A £100 account incurs a £10 fee, and so on. No hidden costs, no nasty surprises. 📈 Expertise and Efficiency: I have extensive experience in preparing Legal Aid accounts, so you can trust me to handle the complexities and ensure accuracy. Don't let time bars rob you of your hard-earned fees. Let me handle your Legal Aid accounts, so you can focus on what you do best – championing your clients. #LegalAid #LawAccountant #TimeBar #SolicitorSupport

Our latest article outlines Legal Aid eligibility and requirements for those looking for assistance. As well as covering case eligibility, it also details who qualifies and the income threshold:  https://lnkd.in/etA7YjDm #familylaw #familylawyer #legalaid

Providers working in civil legal aid are now able to access a new financial eligibility tool called ‘check if your client qualifies for legal aid’ (CCQ). How does it work? Assessments of the client’s means eligibility for civil legal aid will be produced by CCQ based on the information entered. The merits of the case cannot be assessed using this tool. The CCQ tool can be used to perform a means calculation for both: certificated (licensed) legal work controlled work (legal help and family mediation) The tool will make it easier for legal aid providers to assess eligibility for legal aid. If you are interested in taking part in user research about CCQ then use the contact details below. Why is this happening now? The previous civil legal aid calculator was removed in late 2021, as it had become outdated. Since then, the LAA have been working hard to provide a replacement. We have been testing the tool with volunteer providers and improving it based on their feedback. It is now ready for use by all providers. The new tool will be regularly updated to reflect the latest rules changes. This will include changes following the Means Test Review changes. We are in the early stages of developing a similar eligibility tool for criminal legal aid and will keep you updated on progress. Further information Check if your client qualifies for legal aid – to access the tool eligibility@justice.gov.uk – mailbox for questions or enquiries about taking part in user research on the tool