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26 B. Rep. 1 (1997-1998)

handle is hein.barjournals/breport0028 and id is 1 raw text is: Referendum Bulletin PSAC coalition provides quick assistance to District's families with disabled children AsBar Report went on press, balloting had just con- cluded in the D.C. Bar's library referendum. Throughout July and August, ac- tive D.C. Bar members had the op- portunity to vote on whether or not the D.C. Bar should be authorized to establish, operate and maintain a public law library in the District of Columbia using up to six percent of each member's dues, along with user fees and other funds. The results were being tabulated by an independent company and were scheduled to be delivered to the D.C. Bar Election Board on Sep- tember 3 and reported to the Bar's Board of Governors at its meeting s on September 9. Voluntary program mediating fee disputes extended The D.C. Bars Board of Governors has approved a six-month exten- sion of a pilot voluntary fee dis- pute mediation program initiated by the Bar's Attomey/Chent Arbitration Board (ACAB). The Voluntary Mediation Pilot _' ject was launched last February as an alter a- tive to arbitration for clients and attonys with fee disputes. With the Board's action, the pilot project will continue until January 31, 1998. The fundamental difference between mediation and arbitration is that, in media- ton, the parties decide themselves how to resolve their dispute by talking out their differences, explained then ACAB Chair Nathalie P. Gilfoyle in a memorandum to the Bar's Board last December,just before the project was initiated. In seeking the extension, current ACAB Chair Carol Izuni reported that while two cases had been successfully mediated, the ACAB believed a larger pool of cases was necessary in order to fully evaluate the pilot project. So far, three cases have been successfully mediated. We believe the design of the program is good, Izumi told the Board of Governors as she sought the six month extension. Under the pilot project's guidelines, parties to a fee dispute must both agree in writing to have their dispute mediated by co medi- ators-one lawyer and one non-lawyer- drawn from a pool of ACAB arbitrators who have extensive backgrounds in media- tion. If the terms of a mediated agreement are not fulfilled, the dispute is sent back to arbitration. he D.C. Bars Public Service Activities Corporation (PSAC) has been instrumental in forming a coalition of law firms and legal service organizations that is providing pro bono assistance to District of Columbia families whose children may lose their federal Sup- plemental Security Income (SSI) benefits as a result of recent changes in the nation's welfare laws. PSAC estimates that more than 700 dis- abled children in the District of Columbia may face a loss of income as a result of changes in SSI rules instituted earlier this year by the Social Security Administration. In an effort to assist parents who receive a notice of discontinuation of those benefits, PSAC established the Children's SSI Dis- ability Hotline to provide information and representation to families in jeopardy of losing benefits and to assist indigent fami- lies in appealing those decisions. This project is a perfect example of the pro bono commitment of Washington law firms and legal service programs. Volun- teers have stepped in on very short notice to fill real community needs, said Mark E. Herzog, PSAC supervising attorney, who is providing staff support for the undertaking. PSAC is in the process of distributing flyers with information about the Hotline. Although the rules changed in February, some families are only now receiving infor- mation on their status. The Hotline was activated on June 9 and is staffed by nine law firms and a team from the D.C. Law Students in Court Pro- gram. Firm participants are Arnold & Porter; Crowell & Moring; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; Mayer, Brown & Platt; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Shea & Gardner; Sidley & Austin; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Steptoe & Johnson. The Hotline dials directly into the participating law firms, Lawyers counsel callers on the new leg islation and their rights throughout the process, mail out pertinent information, then follow up with representation when necessary. Herzog also noted the efforts of several individuals and organizations that enabled the Hotline to begin operating so quickly: Donald J. Munro and Matthew Heffernan of the law firm of Shea & Gardner devel- oped a comprehensive set of pro se materi- als for distribution to callers; Eugenia Lan- gan of Shea & Gardner and R. Scott McNeilly of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless provided significant out- reach to the community to see that poten- tially affected parents and caregivers were informed of the rules changes; and a num- her of individuals prepared a special train- Harris, Shriver & Jacobson. ing program for volunteers, including Pro- The PSAC Law Firm Pro Bono Clinic fessor Laura Macklin and Rhonda Bennett and several other legal service providers of the Georgetown University Law Center have agreed to assume the overflow of Juvenile Justice Clinic, Professor Gay Ge- cases in the event a firm receives requests horn of the University of the District of for representation on any of its intake days Columbia, Leigh S. Goodmark of Zaccha- above the number it committed to repre- eus Free Clinic, and Scott McNeilly of the sent. Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Additional volunteers are needed to staff The training session was hosted and the Helpline. For information, contact Her- videotaped by the law firm of Fried, Frank, zog at 202/737-4700, ext. 206. A coalition oflawfirms, legal serice provi D. C Bar's Public Service Activities Corpo vide pro bono assistance to some of the D theirfamilies facing the possible loss off benefts. At a training session on the issue federal welfare laws have made it more da Members are reminded of D.C. Bar members who have not paid their 1997 98 dues by early September will receive second notices along with a reminder that dues payments must be postmarked within 30 days of those notices in order to avoid the imposition of late fees. D.C. Court of Appeals Rules require all Bar members to complete their statement and return it with dues payments for the year. Dues amounts are $110 for active members, $79 for inactive members, and $52 for judicial members. Delinquent pay- ers also face a late fee of $30. Bar members who fail to respond timely to the September mailing will receive a third notice by certified mail. If payment of dues and late fees are not postmarked by December 1, the member automatically will be suspended from the practice of law and be subject to an additional reinstate- ment fee of $50. In completing the registration statement, members may change their membership class. Members should consult Rule 49 of ders and individual lawyers convened by the ration, has undertaken a major effort to pro- istrict of Columbia's neediest children and ederal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) , volunteers learned that recent changes in ficultfor children to show disabilities. dues deadline the D.C. Court of Appeals, on who must be an active member of the D.C. Bar, before changing their sthtus. Active Bar members living inthe Metro- politan Washington area and all Section members should check their business mem- bership data in particular, since that infor- mation, including the e-mail and facsimile, is used when the Bar creates its 1998 Mem- bership Directory. Active metro area mem- bers and/or Section members who wish to be excluded from that publication should notify the Bar's Membership Office in writ- ing at 1250 H Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005-5937. Also on the registration statement is a request for tax-deductible contributions to support the work of the Bar's Public See vice Activities Corporation (PSAC). The suggested amount is $60, but many mem- bers write in larger amounts. Members who have not received their statements should contact the Bar's Mem- bership Office at 202/626-3475.

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