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EDITOR'S NOTE: There are so many laudable pro bono legal services groups in Utah. The Journal wishes it could profile them all. Here is only one fine example. If we could profile each one, we would end each with the subheading "Pro Bono Opportunities."
The Multi-Cultural Legal Center ("MLC") is a unique and innovative 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to use and strengthen Utah's system of justice
to ensure that racial and ethnic communities receive equal treatment and access to legal representation.
Background
MLC was formed in 1997 by the Honorable Michael Kwan,
Henri Sisneros, Sherrie Hayashi and Jimi Mitsunaga for the purposes of providing greater access and understanding to the legal system for racial and ethnic communities. MLC is
accomplishing this mission by providing legal expertise and advocacy in areas of law which significantly impact racial and ethnic communities such as discrimination, immigration, and hate
crimes, and by collaborating with existing legal service providers and other service agencies to make their services more accessible to communities of color. These communities face
cultural and language barriers in understanding their rights, the law, and how to access the courts and legal representation.
Services, Cases & Clients
MLC's clients
come from a widely diverse community: immigrants from Turkey, Argentina, Tonga, Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, Mexico, India, Russia, Somalia, Kenya, Mali, Canada, Nicaragua, Brazil, Costa
Rica, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Bolivia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Trinidad, Cuba, Sudan, Bosnia; and long-standing Utah communities of African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and
Pacific Islander. In the recent 2000 U.S. census, Utah's communities of color have grown dramatically, far exceeding the general population growth. Utah's Hispanic/Latino population has
grown 138% over 1990. The Pacific Islander population grew 97% and the Asian population grew 56%. Utah's African American population has grown 46 percent from 1990 census figures. The
Native American population has shown a 17% increase. The overall Utah population growth has increased 29.6% since 1990. For the first time Utah's minority community exceeds 10% of the
general population. As these communities grow, so does the need for the services provided by our organization.
In its short history, MLC has provided legal representation in areas
such as housing and employment discrimination, wage claims, and the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA") Immigration Relief Project. The clients must meet income guidelines in
order to qualify for services. In our VAWA Immigration Relief Project, we have helped many women who are married to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are victims of domestic
violence. MLC advises these women on the law and petitions for residency on their behalf. "Angela"1 and her children suffered from extreme physical and emotional
abuse from her husband. Her husband would sharpen his kitchen knives and then test them for sharpness across Angela's skin. While she was pregnant with one of their children, he would
kick her in the belly. He would beat the children in public and at home if they wanted to go to church or attend activities that he did not want them to attend. Without MLC's assistance,
Angela would have stayed in the abusive relationship. MLC petitioned for residency on her behalf, and she obtained a work permit, found a job, moved into a safe home for her and her
children, and is on her way to becoming a self-sufficient individual.
In addition to legal representation, MLC has organized and conducted seminars for racial and ethnic
communities on such topics, such as "Ask a Lawyer," "Landlord/Tenant Relief," "Dealing with Law Enforcement," "Housing and Employment
Discrimination," "Immigration Relief for Victims of Domestic Violence," "Understanding the Legal System," and "I-9 Provisions and Discrimination." Legal
education is equally important because these communities do not always understand the law, the language or the judicial system. By providing this information, these communities are
empowered to follow the law and protect their rights. By incorporating legal advocacy and legal education, MLC takes a multi-cultural approach to these issues and focuses on educating
these communities about the law, their rights and responsibilities, as well as promoting better cultural understanding of all communities.
Pro Bono Opportunities
We
understand that the need for legal information encompasses criminal law, bankruptcy, credit issues, predatory mortgage lending, estate planning, domestic law, and business law. The Utah
Offices of Ethnic Affairs has indicated that the needs of these communities are great. As the communities grow, these needs will continue to expand.
As a result of the recent
state of the economy, MLC has been forced to reduce the range of legal services it provides, and its current funding provides for the VAWA Immigration Relief Project and a limited wage
claim project. MLC relies on the services of pro bono attorneys in a broad range of areas, including but not limited to, assistance with the wage claim project, participation in community
legal education seminars, and advising potential clients regarding a broad spectrum of legal issues. Because of these needs, MLC needs attorneys who are willing to donate some time to
participate in legal clinics, to provide information in a seminar to educate the communities, to supervise a specific legal clinic, to supervise legal projects on issues that impact these
communities, or to provide legal representation to persons who contact our offices. It is not necessary for you to speak another language, so long as you are able to help. All attorneys,
legal assistants, and other volunteers are welcome to help MLC in meeting these many needs.
Footnotes
1.Angela is a composite of several clients who have sought MLC's assistance.
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