Metro Volunteer Metro Volunteer LawyersLawyers

A Department of the Denver Bar Association A Department of the Denver Bar Association supported in conjunction with the supported in conjunction with the

Adams/Broomfield, Arapahoe, Douglas/Elbert, Adams/Broomfield, Arapahoe, Douglas/Elbert, and 1and 1stst Judicial Bar Associations Judicial Bar Associations

Prepared By: Dianne A. Van Voorhees, Esq. Prepared By: Dianne A. Van Voorhees, Esq. Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Colorado & Denver Bar Association Executive Director

Deputy Executive Director Director of CLE

Asst. Exec. Director

Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL)(Denver Bar Assoc.) Executive Director

MVL Legal Services Coordinator

MVL Family Law Court Program Coordinator

MVL Administrative Assistant

MVL StaffMVL Staff

Patricia Trujillo, Legal Services CoordinatorPatricia Trujillo, Legal Services Coordinator Dianne A. Van Voorhees, Executive DirectorDianne A. Van Voorhees, Executive Director

Tina Martinez, Administrative AssistantTina Martinez, Administrative Assistant Anna Paschke, Family Law Court Program Anna Paschke, Family Law Court Program

CoordinatorCoordinator

HistoryHistory MVL was established in 1966 by a group of young Denver MVL was established in 1966 by a group of young Denver

Bar Association lawyers.  It was known then as the Bar Association lawyers.  It was known then as the "Thursday Night Bar Program," because the founding "Thursday Night Bar Program," because the founding volunteer attorneys met with clients each Thursday volunteer attorneys met with clients each Thursday evening at Legal Aid offices in northwest Denver or in the evening at Legal Aid offices in northwest Denver or in the Five Points neighborhood. The attorneys provided what Five Points neighborhood. The attorneys provided what help and advice they could in person on Thursday nights, help and advice they could in person on Thursday nights, then met the next morning to discuss the clients’ matters then met the next morning to discuss the clients’ matters and assign themselves or other lawyers they recruited to and assign themselves or other lawyers they recruited to carry on with the numerous matters that could not be carry on with the numerous matters that could not be completed during the Thursday night sessions. completed during the Thursday night sessions.

Approximately twenty attorneys volunteered in the first Approximately twenty attorneys volunteered in the first year. The efforts of these original lawyer participants year. The efforts of these original lawyer participants continued and strengthened a long tradition of continued and strengthened a long tradition of volunteerism and public service by lawyers all across volunteerism and public service by lawyers all across Colorado. TNB. was renamed Metro Volunteer Lawyers in Colorado. TNB. was renamed Metro Volunteer Lawyers in 1998, to reflect the program's growth and expansion. 1998, to reflect the program's growth and expansion.

Founding PrinciplesFounding Principles

The founders of the Thursday Night Bar program The founders of the Thursday Night Bar program looked to the Lawyers’ Canons of Ethics as their looked to the Lawyers’ Canons of Ethics as their guiding principles in carrying out their community guiding principles in carrying out their community service, stating “[w]e hope to galvanize as a service, stating “[w]e hope to galvanize as a profession to show this community we intend to profession to show this community we intend to discharge to the best of our responsibility an discharge to the best of our responsibility an obligation we feel we owe,” the legal profession is obligation we feel we owe,” the legal profession is “a branch of the administration of justice and not “a branch of the administration of justice and not a mere money-getting trade.” a mere money-getting trade.”

~Donald Giacomini, founding member of Thursday ~Donald Giacomini, founding member of Thursday NightNightBar, quoted in the Rocky Mountain News, referring to ABA Canons Bar, quoted in the Rocky Mountain News, referring to ABA Canons ofofProfessional Ethics, Canon 14 (1908) (Tuesday, April 5, 1966). Professional Ethics, Canon 14 (1908) (Tuesday, April 5, 1966).

Today, Metro Volunteer Today, Metro Volunteer Lawyers continues its Lawyers continues its work with the same work with the same guiding principles.guiding principles.

Who We ServeWho We Serve People with low or People with low or

no income who need no income who need legal assistance for:legal assistance for: Family law mattersFamily law matters Debts, bankruptcy, Debts, bankruptcy,

consumer issuesconsumer issues Estate planning, Estate planning,

probateprobate ImmigrationImmigration Tort defenseTort defense Landlord/ tenantLandlord/ tenant And tax issuesAnd tax issues

Judges, Magistrates, Judges, Magistrates, and Court Staffand Court Staff

Attorneys Attorneys

Paralegals Paralegals

Students and others Students and others who want to gain who want to gain hands-on experience hands-on experience while serving the while serving the community community

GlossaryGlossary Pro Bono= free of Pro Bono= free of

chargecharge Pro Se= by yourself, Pro Se= by yourself,

not represented by an not represented by an attorneyattorney

Litigant= the person Litigant= the person with the legal issuewith the legal issue

Volunteer=person who Volunteer=person who gives something even gives something even though they don’t have though they don’t have to a.k.a. “Angel”, etc. to a.k.a. “Angel”, etc.

Uncontested=the Uncontested=the other party agrees or other party agrees or doesn’t caredoesn’t care

Attorney/Lawyer= A Attorney/Lawyer= A person trained, qualified, person trained, qualified, and licensed to give legal and licensed to give legal advice and to represent advice and to represent people in courtpeople in court

Paralegal= A person Paralegal= A person trained to assist in the trained to assist in the preparation of legal preparation of legal documentsdocuments

Family Law= divorce, Family Law= divorce, custody, child support, custody, child support, parenting plans, alimony, parenting plans, alimony, etc.etc.

Permanent Orders= Permanent Orders= Final orders of the Court Final orders of the Court

Applicants are screened based on income:

Eligibility Guidelines for MVL Clients

• Gross family income within 125% of federal poverty guidelines (200% with exceptions).

• For an individual, $12,763 annually.

• For a family of four, gross annual income cannot exceed $25,813 on an annual basis.

• Person works 7 hours/day at $7 per hour = eligible for services.

• Person earns more than $49/day = not eligible (above government-set income eligibility guidelines).

Example

About 11% of Coloradans are "poor," according to the federal poverty guidelines.

500,000 people statewide

Coloradans Eligible for MVL Services

Other vulnerable populations include people with disabilities, the elderly, Native Americans and migrants.

15% of Coloradans speak a language other than English at home.

600,000 people statewide (although not all financially eligible)

Volunteer AttorneysVolunteer Attorneys

1050 1050 Volunteer Attorneys on our Volunteer Attorneys on our panelpanel

323323 Volunteer Attorneys took cases Volunteer Attorneys took cases in 2007 in 2007

17811781 Cases handled through MVL in Cases handled through MVL in 20072007

That’s 323 attorneys That’s 323 attorneys for 1781 clients.for 1781 clients.

“Nationally, 1 of every 2 eligible applicants for service is turned away because of a lack of resources. Only one in five legal problems experienced by low-income people are addressed with the assistance of either a private attorney or a legal aid lawyer. There is one lawyer for every 525 people in the general US population; there is one legal aid lawyer for every 6,861 low-income people. More resources are needed.”

Documenting the Justice Gap in AmericaLegal Services Corporation, 2005

The Justice Gap

How Do We Serve?How Do We Serve?

We connect eligible clients with We connect eligible clients with volunteer attorneys.volunteer attorneys.

We recruit volunteer attorneys.We recruit volunteer attorneys. We coordinate and manage family We coordinate and manage family

law clinics.law clinics. We collaborate with community We collaborate with community

partners to provide pro bono legal partners to provide pro bono legal services to the needy.services to the needy.

Legal Services Legal Services CoordinationCoordination

Once a potential client has Once a potential client has completed intake, the Legal Services completed intake, the Legal Services Coordinator reviews the file and Coordinator reviews the file and begins contacting volunteer begins contacting volunteer attorneys to try to place the case. attorneys to try to place the case.

The Legal Services Coordinator has The Legal Services Coordinator has handled approximately 1300 cases handled approximately 1300 cases this year.this year.

Family Law Court Family Law Court ProgramProgram

The The Family Law Court ProgramFamily Law Court Program ("FLCP") ("FLCP") assists clients with relatively uncomplicated, assists clients with relatively uncomplicated, “uncontested” divorce or custody matters where “uncontested” divorce or custody matters where the other party is not represented by an the other party is not represented by an attorney.  FLCP also helps with some post-attorney.  FLCP also helps with some post-decree cases in Denver and Jefferson counties.  decree cases in Denver and Jefferson counties.  FLCP assists between 500 and 1,000 clients a FLCP assists between 500 and 1,000 clients a year. year.

Accepted clients actually file for their divorce Accepted clients actually file for their divorce “pro se,” meaning they represent themselves, “pro se,” meaning they represent themselves, and attend the FLCP clinic two times to prepare and attend the FLCP clinic two times to prepare their case for filing and to attend the permanent their case for filing and to attend the permanent orders hearing.orders hearing.

I Need a Lawyer! How Do I I Need a Lawyer! How Do I Get Started?Get Started?

If you live in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, If you live in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties,

you MUST first call the Denver office of you MUST first call the Denver office of Colorado Legal ServicesColorado Legal Services (CLS) at (CLS) at 303-837-1313303-837-1313 to to

get help.get help.

Members of the CLS staff will conduct a telephone Members of the CLS staff will conduct a telephone intake interview with you to determine whether you intake interview with you to determine whether you are financially eligible, and whether your case is the are financially eligible, and whether your case is the kind we can take. kind we can take.

If you are eligible for our assistance, CLS will send If you are eligible for our assistance, CLS will send us the information you provide in the intake us the information you provide in the intake process. Then, one of our staff members will work to process. Then, one of our staff members will work to find you a volunteer lawyer to represent you, and find you a volunteer lawyer to represent you, and you will be contacted by our staff or that lawyer.you will be contacted by our staff or that lawyer.

How Do Attorneys How Do Attorneys Volunteer?Volunteer?

If you are a licensed Colorado Lawyer in good If you are a licensed Colorado Lawyer in good standing,standing,

& live or practice anywhere in the Metro Area, we & live or practice anywhere in the Metro Area, we needneed

youyou! !

Volunteer lawyers are the lifeblood of MVL.Volunteer lawyers are the lifeblood of MVL. Call (303)866-9378 or e-mail me at Call (303)866-9378 or e-mail me at

diannev@denbar.orgdiannev@denbar.org

to sign up to be a part of the volunteer panel to sign up to be a part of the volunteer panel and/or to volunteer for the Family Law Court and/or to volunteer for the Family Law Court Program.Program.

Our PartnersOur Partners Colorado Legal ServicesColorado Legal Services Volunteer Attorneys and ParalegalsVolunteer Attorneys and Paralegals Post-Decree Clinic Sponsors:Post-Decree Clinic Sponsors:

Holland & Hart Holland & Hart Faegre & BensonFaegre & Benson

Office VolunteersOffice Volunteers Denver Bar Association, Denver Bar Association,

Adams/Broomfield Bar Association, 1Adams/Broomfield Bar Association, 1stst Judicial Bar Association, Douglas/Elbert Judicial Bar Association, Douglas/Elbert Bar Association, Arapahoe Bar AssociationBar Association, Arapahoe Bar Association

Our BoardOur Board The Metro Volunteer Lawyers Governing Board The Metro Volunteer Lawyers Governing Board

oversees MVL's operations. The Governing Board has oversees MVL's operations. The Governing Board has 18 volunteer lawyer members, six from the Denver 18 volunteer lawyer members, six from the Denver Bar Association (which employs MVL's staff and funds Bar Association (which employs MVL's staff and funds a majority of its operating costs), and three from each a majority of its operating costs), and three from each of the other four Metro Area bar associations in the of the other four Metro Area bar associations in the counties MVL serves. counties MVL serves.

These bar associations also help fund the program, These bar associations also help fund the program, and provide attorney volunteers to assist clients. and provide attorney volunteers to assist clients. Adams/Broomfield Bar Association Adams/Broomfield Bar Association Arapahoe County Bar Association Arapahoe County Bar Association Douglas/Elbert County Bar Association Douglas/Elbert County Bar Association First Judicial District Bar AssociationFirst Judicial District Bar Association

(whose lawyer members practice in Jefferson and Gilpin (whose lawyer members practice in Jefferson and Gilpin counties)counties)

MVL Board’s Mission MVL Board’s Mission StatementStatement

The MVL Board furthers the success of the The MVL Board furthers the success of the MVL Program, which provides free and low-MVL Program, which provides free and low-cost help for indigent and low-income clients cost help for indigent and low-income clients in the Denver Metropolitan area. It is in the Denver Metropolitan area. It is comprised of representatives from all of the comprised of representatives from all of the metro-area county bar associations whose metro-area county bar associations whose indigent citizens are served by MVL. indigent citizens are served by MVL. MVL provides volunteer or low-fee attorneys MVL provides volunteer or low-fee attorneys for low-income clients who need advice, for low-income clients who need advice, counseling, education, or representation in counseling, education, or representation in civil matters. MVL recruits attorneys and civil matters. MVL recruits attorneys and other members of the legal community to other members of the legal community to provide pro bono services and coordinates the provide pro bono services and coordinates the services of the lawyers with the clients. services of the lawyers with the clients.

ChallengesChallenges

We cannot help everyone who comes to us.We cannot help everyone who comes to us. The demand for our help is HUGE. We must The demand for our help is HUGE. We must

assist clients on a first come first served basis.assist clients on a first come first served basis. We limit the types of cases that we will accept.We limit the types of cases that we will accept. We do not always have enough volunteer We do not always have enough volunteer

attorneys to take cases when clients need them.attorneys to take cases when clients need them. We do not always have volunteer attorneys who We do not always have volunteer attorneys who

will take specific types of cases, even if our will take specific types of cases, even if our program accepts those types of cases. program accepts those types of cases.

GoalsGoals

Maintain and enhance our current Maintain and enhance our current programs.programs.

Strengthen our recruitment and Strengthen our recruitment and retention methods to maintain and retention methods to maintain and develop our volunteer panel.develop our volunteer panel.

Collaborate with our partners to Collaborate with our partners to create and implement service create and implement service delivery tools to address gaps in delivery tools to address gaps in services.services.

How You Can HelpHow You Can Help

Volunteer Volunteer Encourage others to volunteerEncourage others to volunteer Educate others about MVL and what Educate others about MVL and what

we dowe do Recognize and thank our volunteersRecognize and thank our volunteers

Come and VisitCome and Visit

We are located in the Colorado Legal We are located in the Colorado Legal Services offices in the Denver Tower Services offices in the Denver Tower

at:at:1905 Sherman Street 1905 Sherman Street

Suite 400 Suite 400 Denver, CO 80203 Denver, CO 80203

Telephone: 303-830-8210 Telephone: 303-830-8210 Fax Number: 303-837-0019 Fax Number: 303-837-0019

Please drop by any time!!Please drop by any time!!

Metro Volunteer Metro Volunteer LawyersLawyers

Providing legal services to the poor for Providing legal services to the poor for 40 years and counting!40 years and counting!