March 2001

Article Title

 

Third Annual Campaign - “New Partners”

 

Author

 

“and Justice for all”

 

Contact Information

 

 

 

Article Type

 

State Bar News

 

Article

 

 

"and Justice for all" kicked off its third annual campaign on January 23, 2001 at the Rotunda of the Utah State Capitol. The Campaign took this opportunity to recognize its supporters in the Utah legal community which have helped "and Justice for all" preserve and increase the provision of civil legal services to disadvantaged and disabled citizens throughout Utah. After the first two years of the Campaign, a full 36% of the state's attorneys have supported "and Justice for all." The Campaign's goal is to increase annual participation to 50% of lawyers state-wide to create a stable source of funding for the provision of legal services to needy individuals and families. Alan Sullivan, a partner with Snell & Wilmer and Chair of the Campaign said, "Guaranteeing equal access to the courts for people without the financial means to hire a lawyer is the obligation of each one of us. Utah's lawyers are making sure the words Ôand Justice for all' have real meaning in our state."

"and Justice for all" funds have helped the Disability Law Center, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake and Utah Legal Services serve nearly 20,000 individuals in 1999 - 3,750 more individuals than the year before. However, increased outreach to underserved populations and referrals from the private bar have increased the demand for services. In 1999, 11,568 eligible individuals received no or limited assistance due to a lack of resources.

This year, "and Justice for all" is focusing on "New Partners" to recognize that the need in our community is far too great to be met solely by the legal community and there are still too many eligible individuals who cannot receive legal assistance. The 2001 Campaign will focus on further expanding access to justice by incorporating "New Partners" - donors and clients. To help inform "New Partners" about the Campaign, we will utilize a short video which features the stories of clients served by the partner agencies using funds generated by the Campaign and several leading members of the state's legal profession speaking on the importance of supporting access to justice for all people. If you would like us to make a presentation at your office or for a special event, please contact the Campaign at (801) 257-5519.

To help in this year's effort the R. Harold Burton Foundation has pledged a generous $100,000 challenge grant which will be awarded to the Campaign when an additional $300,000 is raised from the state's lawyers. To date, we have secured $200,000 in pledges and donations towards this goal. With your support, we will meet this challenge. Rick Horne, Executive Director of the R. Harold Burton Foundation, said he is pleased to make the substantial contribution to this year's campaign. "The Foundation has long been a supporter of the services supported by "and Justice for all" and is pleased at the extreme effectiveness with which the entities use every dollar they receive."

An attorney's contribution to "and Justice for all" will meet all or a portion of his or her obligation under Rule 6.1 of the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct. The suggested contribution is the dollar equivalent of two billable hours. Donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to "and Justice for all" and remitted to 225 South, 200 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.