The Justice Report

October 2014


#CampainForLegalAid
This fall, Arkansas Access to Justice is joining Legal Aid of Arkansas and VOCALS to kick off a statewide Campaign for Legal Aid. Funds raised go directly to support essential civil legal services for our state's most vulnerable citizens. Click here to donate today. 
Pro Bono Opportunities
As Pro Bono Month winds down, we are mindful of the many Arkansans who still need help with life-altering civil legal needs. You can make a difference in the lives of Arkansans who need legal help to stay in their homes, care for their grandchildren, or escape abusive spouses. Click here to view current cases.
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Is your civic organization, local bar association, or firm looking for a speaker or needing CLE credit? Contact our staff to arrange for us to speak to your group.

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Justice Measured: Full Report on Economic Impact of Legal Aid Released
Clinton School Team

The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission recently released a final report on the economic impact of civil legal aid in Arkansas. The study, which was conducted by a team of students from the Clinton School of Public Service, found that the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas generated a total positive economic impact of more than $32 million in 2013. The complete study, including an executive summary and appendices, can be found here

Arkansas Attorneys Celebrate National Pro Bono Month

Arkansas has been celebrating Pro Bono Month with a series of events that have given pro bono attorneys a chance to provide legal help to veterans, cancer patients, the homeless, and individuals seeking to improve their employment opportunities through expungements. We will top off the month with an October 28 pro bono wills clinic for families of Arkansas Children's Hospital patients. Thank you to the nearly 75 volunteers who have given their time to help more than 100 Arkansans. We are also grateful to project partners Arkansas Children's Hospital, Central United Methodist Church, Pulaski County Bar Association, Shorter College, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Tyson Foods, UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, W. Harold Flowers Law Society, and Walmart. Click here to view our photo gallery.

UALR Bowen School of Law to Honor Danyelle Walker

Long-time Access to Justice Commission member, Foundation board member, and Center for Arkansas Legal Services board member Danyelle Walker is the UALR Bowen School of Law's 2014 Distinguished Alumna for Public Service. She will be recognized the school's October 29, 2014 Scholarship Luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock.

 

Walker, a private attorney, has served as a special justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court and serves on the Court's Professional Conduct Committee.  Limited seating is still available. Contact Amy Jackson to make a reservation.

Changing Firms? Don't Forget to Change Your IOLTA Participation Status
IOLTAAttorneys who have IOLTA accounts should notify the IOLTA Program when they change firms, leave private practice, move to a new address, or close an IOLTA account. This can be accomplished using our Attorney Change of Status form. For a full listing of all IOLTA Program forms, visit www.arkansasjustice.org/ioltaforms. You may also contact us by email or by phone at (501) 682-9421.
About Us
Nearly one in four Arkansans qualify to receive free civil legal services, yet nearly half of the 30,000 Arkansans who call for help each year are turned away because our two nonprofit legal aid providers lack the resources to serve them.

 

Our mission is to coordinate statewide efforts to ensure that all Arkansans have a fair opportunity to be heard in court in civil matters. We work with a variety of other partners who share our vision, and together, we undertake innovative projects to accomplish this mission. 

 

This newsletter provides periodic updates on the work of Arkansas Access to Justice, legal aid, our pro bono partners, and the Arkansas IOLTA Program.

 

Thank you for your interest in our work.

 

Sincerely,

 

Amy Dunn Johnson

Executive Director, Arkansas Access to Justice

 

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