Family Law Section

Minutes November 12, 2003

Present:

• Adam Trupp
• Randy Ludlow
• Russell Minas
• Steven Gunn
• Rick Hummell
• Lori Nelson
• Kellie Williams
• Louise Knauer
• Larry Jones

1. Minutes of the meeting of October 8, 2003, were approved, with the correction that Kellie Williams was not present, but had been excused.

2. Helen Christian was replaced by Waine Riches as one of the two family law practitioners on the OCAP Committee.

3. Ken Bresin, Deputy Director of Utah Legal Services, presented the Assisted Pro Se project, which would pair attorneys with impecunious people using the OCAP, to review their pleadings. Utah Legal Services received a $100,000 grant, of which $75,000 was used to write the software for the program. ULS is seeking 20 experienced family law attorneys to “test drive” the system with pre-screened impecunious people. Ken explained that ULS provides malpractice insurance, and that the Bar has stated that attorneys may represent people for such limited purposes as reviewing the pleadings. The entire process may be done online, using a link with the OCAP pleadings. After a person using the OCAP has finished filling out the information, and after answering that he or she could not afford the filing fee and cost of the documents, an individual will be given the option of having an attorney review the pleadings, if one is available. Then, the attorney is provided through email with the name and basic information about the litigant, to perform a conflict check, and decide if he/she wished to provide the assistance. The entire interaction may be done on-line. However, Kellie and others indicated that they might rather meet with the client, and review the pleadings in the office, in order to provide a more adequate service. To review more information, email Probono@AndJusticeForAll.org. To sign up as an volunteer attorney, go to www.UtahProBono.Org, and click on the Volunteer Attorney button. There was discussion that fliers could be available at the Christmas Party.

4. Louise Knauer was elected Chair-elect of the Executive Committee, and will serve as secretary of the Committee.

5. The Family Law Christmas Party will be held on December 3, 2003, at Cohne, Rappaport & Segal. There will be no Executive Committee meeting in December.

6. Louise Knauer handed out copies of the letter she wrote to Debra Moore, requesting that the Executive Committee be informed, and permitted to respond to, any proposal to change the division of revenue from CLE seminars from the 50%/50% current split.

7. The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.