Pro Bono Partnerships – Law
Libraries
Pro Bono Partnerships Special
Committee
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The assistance of law librarians is a valuable asset to many attorneys doing pro bono work.
By participating in such collaborative efforts, law librarians provide public service while also
raising their visibility within the legal community. The Special Committee shall focus on
promoting and increasing cooperative efforts between law librarians and the providers of
pro bono legal assistance. Specifically the Special Committee is charged to:
Identify successful statewide or local pro bono projects conducted by bar associations,
legal aid services, and voluntary attorney networks. Explore ways to encourage AALL
chapters and local law libraries to connect with these programs in a high profile way and
suggest appropriate roles that law librarians can play in such projects.
Spotlight initiatives by librarians in all types of law libraries to assist under-served members
of the public directly or to contribute research and organizational skills to their employers'
pro bono activities or to support students who are fulfilling pro bono service requirements.
Prepare a Members' Briefing for the July 2007 issue of AALL Spectrum (deadline is May 3)
which explains and spotlights some of these successful programs and provides some "Best
Practices" guidance for such efforts.
Recommend how AALL can become involved with the Self-Represented Litigation Network
of the National Center for State Courts.
Recommend how the work of the Special Committee can be continued by some currentlyexisting or newly-created AALL entity.
Pro Bono Partnerships
Self-Represented Litigant
Pro Se Litigant
Action Plan California
California Action Plan
Civil Justice Inc.
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The Civil Justice Network works to increase the delivery of legal
services to Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia clients of low and
moderate income through a network of solo, small firm and community
based lawyers who share a common commitment to increasing access
to justice through traditional and non-traditional means.
The Civil Justice Network provides:
 mentoring,
 law practice management advice,
 discounted legal products,
 co-counseling services with members on high impact litigation,
 a listserv,
 and a client referral service to assist Maryland solo and small firm
lawyers to market their services to clients looking for legal help.
University of Maryland Law School
Civil Justice
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Civil Justice is an affiliated program of the University of Maryland
School of Law and works closely with the School of Law to promote
public interest legal careers for students and graduates. This
partnership includes work with the School of Law's clinical programs
where Civil Justice Network attorneys mentor students and assist
clients served by the program. Civil Justice network attorneys routinely
speak at School of Law functions and programs for alumni and
students alike. Civil Justice also sponsors a "Consumer Law
Clerkship" position for qualified University of Maryland School of Law
students. This clerkship provides students with hands-on experience in
the area of consumer law which includes litigation, research, and client
contract. For more information on the University of Maryland School of
Law, please visit their website at: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/
Unbundled Legal Services
"Unbundled''' legal services can also be described as "discrete task representation". An attorney who provides a specific service
to a client (who is otherwise handling an action pro se) is providing one service out of the possible range of "bundled" services,
otherwise referred to as full representation. Some observers note that this type of service has always been part of the practice of
law, although usually in the context of a relationship with an existing client.
What "Unbundled Legal Services" Means for Clients:
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Attorneys which are committed to the "Unbundled" concept are willing to provide limited legal services to clients. Instead of
paying a large retainer up-front a lawyer delivering limited legal services will undertake discrete tasks such:
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Legal advice: office visits, telephone calls, fax, mail, E-mail
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Advice about availability of alternative means to resolving the dispute, including mediation and arbitration.
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Evaluation of clients' self-diagnosis of the case and advising client about legal rights.
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Guidance and procedural information for filing or serving documents.
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Reviewing correspondence and court documents.
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Preparing and/or suggesting documents to be prepared.
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Factual investigation: contacting witnesses, public record searches, in-depth interview of client.
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Legal research and analysis.
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Discovery: interrogatories, depositions, requests for document production.
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Planning for negotiations, including simulated role playing with client.
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Planning for court appearances made by client, including simulated role playing with client.
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Backup and trouble-shooting during the trial.
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Referring client to other counsel and to other experts.
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Counseling client about possible appeal.
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Procedural assistance with appeal and assisting with substantive legal argumentation in appeal.
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Provide preventive planning and/or schedule legal check-ups.
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Other services as needed by the client.
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