On Monday, February 15, 2010, the South Carolina Crime Victims’ Council will celebrate “Hearts For Crime Victims.”

DETAILS:

Fundraiser Heart Scales

Monday Night: 6:00—9:00 pm
Hudson’s Smokehouse– Harbison
Corner of Park Terrace Drive & Bower’s Parkway

Tickets $25.00 per person advance purchase / $30.00 at the door
Proceeds used by SCCVC for the creation of the South Carolina Crime Victims’ Memorial Garden.

Festivities include delicious food, prizes, & an auction of art work, hotel packages, & other goodies.

Checks payable to:

SCCVC
1900 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210

To purchase tickets, visit www.sccvc.org or call 803-413-5040.

-RFW

Spotlight on RC CASA

The National CASA has award Richland County CASA with their Promising Practices Spotlight this April 17, 2010, during their recognition banquet at the National CASA Association Annual Conference held in Atlanta, GA.

According to their site:

Promising Practices Spotlights highlight original activities, programs, projects or events that enhance the CASA/GAL program’s ability to deliver on the mission of providing court-appointed volunteer advocacy to abused and neglected children. More than one program may be highlighted each year.

For a list of other award winners, click here.

-RFW

Most of us begin to fashion a response  to the question when we’re asked “Why do YOU want to go to law school?” And if you’re surrounded by friends who are not in the legal profession, you may hear the follow-up “You’re such a nice person. Why do you want to change?”

I replied “I want to help people.” And you know what? Many attorneys in the public interest sector answered similarly.

You may not generally think of attorneys as helpful, but take a few moments to ponder “when do I or would I use an attorney?”

• When a family member dies. Hopefully they’ve drafted a will, but either way, we often turn to an attorney to help us through the probate process.
• When we go through a divorce. Sure there are divorce forms and packets available online (and in South Carolina, there are court-approved forms online), but when we think about it, isn’t it prudent to let someone who is not emotionally involved in our marriage take a look and advise us about the long-term effects of the dissolution?
• When we buy or sell a house. This may not seem like an emotional time, but for many it is. This is one of the largest purchases (ok, probably the largest) we will ever make. We commit to this home for the next 30 years or so. Sounds like a good time to have an attorney research the title and make sure we’re paying for what is rightfully ours.
• When we are accused of a crime. I know I want someone well-versed in criminal law to fight for my freedom.

In other words, we use the knowledge and services of attorneys when we have big events in our lives – either when something bad has happened or may happen. To help us.

And I became an attorney to do just that – help people.

-RFW

Today is the final day to make a nomination for the SC Bar’s Pro Bono Award. And, if you’re one of my Twitter followers or Tweeps, then you’ve seen this touted for a while, with especial fervor this week.

And you may wonder, why the big deal? Good question.

Here’s why I think it’s a big deal:

1. There are a LOT of attorneys out there (in and out of South Carolina) who are helping people for free every day, including weekends and holidays. Many of these attorneys receive no recognition for their work. And they deserve the recognition by the public and their peers.
2. Often the general public vilifies attorneys and legal work. Many of us are called greedy and lawyer jokes are common. C’mon, we’ve all heard them. They’ve been around forever, even Shakespeare has a famous line about lawyers. But the truth is, while some – in any profession – go into law to make money, many more go into law to help people. And if they are working in the public sector – government or public interest, their salaries are not their main focus. And for many who enter the private sector, while their salaries are higher on average, they also contribute both money and time with pro bono efforts.
3. And, last, but certainly not least – encouraging pro bono efforts within the legal community is one of the responsibilities (see Responsibility #6) detailed in the Administrative Order establishing the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission. And the SC Bar Pro Bono Program Award Presentation at the annual SC Bar Foundation Gala offers a great opportunity for statewide recognition.

So, if you know an attorney, law firm or program that has provided good pro bono service within the past year, please complete and return the Nomination form. You may just make yourself and someone else feel better. And that’s a good thing, don’t ya think?

-RFW

Just last month, the Massachusetts Court System released its  Interim Report on Access to Justice Initiatives (Massachusetts), specifically initiatives in the Trial Court. This initiative is not to replace the work of their Access to Justice Commission, but to enhance it, as noted in the report itself.

Much of their work mirrors what we in South Carolina are doing.

They are reviewing progress in other states:

• looking at developing forms and interactive websites for self-represented litigants;
• reviewing implications and feasibility of limited scope representation aka unbundled legal services;
• exploring ways to develop court service centers;
• increasing access to the courts for those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

They are reviewing challenges within their current system:

• increases in self-represented litigation;
• increases in legal disputes with underlying social problems such as mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence;
• increased need to work toward consistent and current technology.

Their consensus? Action toward providing:

• services for court users with limited or no English language skills, including staff who can speak and read other languages,
• instructional materials in other languages, and court forms in other languages;
• technology, including wireless (internet) access in courthouses, MassCourts public access, and court forms that can be completed on-line;
• self-help centers and materials; and
• child care centers.

What’s fascinating? This came about through a survey to court personnel. Often we hear that the government is full of bureaucratic red tape.

What’s encouraging? That this very government is working to make the process easier for us to navigate – during a time of economic crisis.

Kudos Massachusetts! We’ll be watching your progress and wish you well throughout the process.

-RFW

Recently Chief Justice Toal of the Supreme Court of South Carolina delivered two important speeches; one to the SC Bar at their annual convention at Kiawah, and one to the SC House Ways and Means.

The takeaway? The financial crisis is taking its toll on the efficiency of the courts. While this may seem like a “duh” moment to many and a “d’oh” moment to others, the repercussions to access to justice could be devastating.

Let’s support our courts and keep access to our courts.

-RFW

Remember a few weeks back, January 13th to be precise, I posted about Richland County CASA – “This is how RCCASA does it!”? Well, I’m excited to host their guest post:

Since our training presentation for the South Carolina Bar Foundation in 2008, RCCASA has continued its aggressive efforts in male recruitment. This presentation was the first of many.

RCCASA was nationally recognized for its success in the implementation of a “best practice” recruitment model and trained CASA programs across the United States that included Washington, Texas, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., Florida and this year RCCASA will be presenting at the National CASA conference in 2010.

We held our own National Conference in Columbia, SC and individuals from Ohio, Florida, Colorado, and Texas visited our sunny state to learn how to recruit male volunteers Although our program has celebrated successes, we find that it is an on-going effort and we continue to be faced with challenges.

As we serve more children, more male volunteers are needed.

Our program felt the impact of the economic crisis. Funding was an issue but more importantly our volunteers were greatly impacted. Many volunteers were faced with relocation and others were faced with decreasing the amount of time they could spend volunteering. Our most committed, dedicated volunteers were taking on second jobs, reentering the workforce, and volunteers who were once retired were now employed.

Beginning July 1, 2010, RCCASA will need to be able to serve 100% of the children.

We are rising to the challenge and will be increasing our recruitment efforts. We are proud of the job our volunteers have done and know that our ability to serve 100% of the children will mean these children will have a strong advocate.

So in a nutshell what does this really mean……It means that more than ever we NEED YOUR assistance in making this happen.  You may not be able to volunteer but you may have a spouse, co-worker, brother, friend, or colleague. Out biggest recruitment tool has been through word of mouth and when you tell someone about CASA, you are making a difference in the lives of the abused and neglected children in our community.

The 2009 SC Bar Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year award nominations are OPEN!

You may remember that just last year we wanted someone to be FAMOUS. And then, Philip A. Middleton was awarded 2008 PRO BONO VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR!

Click here for the application.

Please note that the nominations must be postmarked by FEBRUARY 5, 2010.

You may nominate an individual or organization.

And be sure to include details about the criteria:

(a) Demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor through a pro bono or other volunteer program.
(b) Contributed significant work toward developing innovative approaches to delivery of volunteer legal services.
(c) Participated in an activity that resulted in satisfying previously unmet legal needs or in extending services to underserved segments of the population.
(d) Successfully litigated pro bono cases that favorably affected the provision of other services to the poor.
(e) Successfully achieved legislation that contributed substantially to the delivery of legal services to the poor.

The award will be announced in mid-February and presented at the SC Bar Foundation Gala on Thursday, March 11, 2010.

Stay tuned!

-RFW

Well, I’m heading down to the SC Bar Convention at the Sanctuary on Kiawah. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Island and am looking forward to basking a little, right?

Well, I will be attending some CLEs and am helping the SC Bar Convention staff coordinate the Saturday session about Rule 608. I hope to have some exciting stories to tell and hopefully a few photos. Stay tuned . . .

And, if you’re there, please say “hey” to me!

-RFW

PS – If you follow @scatj on Twitter, be on the lookout for Convention hashtags – either #SCBar2010 or #SCB2010!

Good News:

SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center released its FOCUS ON KIDS report.

Bad News:

The information contained in the report.

Did you know that South Carolina ranks forty-fifth among states for overall child well-being?

Click on the link to read the report, Focus on Kids full budget.

-RFW