Models for Organizing or Expanding Pro Bono Programs
• Social Service Agency Integrated Model
Social service agencies are already in contact with needy persons. They have established systems for screening financial need, maintaining records and matching clients to appropriate services. With basic training and guidelines about categorizing legal problems, they can readily provide the pre-screening of applicants and matching of them appropriately to volunteer attorneys. Marginalized persons are served by a variety of governmental and private (non-governmental) agencies. Examples of such agencies are public and law libraries, abuse shelters, Department of Social Services offices, Department of Health and Senior Services offices, Department of Mental Health offices, area agencies on aging, United Way agencies, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Family Services, Jewish Community Services and community action agencies. Needy persons usually show up at such agencies first because they are hungry, homeless, cold or otherwise in need. Applicants to these agencies come with social-economic problems but also frequently these problems are caused by or intertwined with legal problems.
Low-income persons with legal problems most likely have other immediate needs for housing, clothing, food, utilities and more. Partnering with social service agencies links the volunteer attorney to the means of addressing these needs while he or she addresses the legal problems. Lawyers collaborating with social service agencies can look at the client more holistically. In the long run, solving the legal problems may well reduce the economic problems, but in short run, people need food and shelter.
The Legal Care program of the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City is such a program and willing to provide more information about how to establish a similar program in your community. Contact legalcare@midmosamaritan.org.
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