The First Promise of Justice Conference is a Success
(Shown left to right: Chuck Goldner-ATJC Chair; Tommy Wells-ABA Immediate Past President; Justice Jess Dickinson-Mississippi Supreme Court; and Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber-Arkansas Supreme Court. Photo taken at the Promise of Justice Conference.)
The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission held its first conference Friday, Nov. 13, at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. Ninety-four people — lawyers, judges, professors, students, and leaders of non-profits — convened for the one-day “Promise of Justice Conference,” where they discussed how poverty hinders access to civil justice in Arkansas. They heard three presentations, participated in various discussion groups, and enjoyed lunch together.
Opening
The event began with Mr. Philip Anderson, a founding partner of Williams & Anderson and past-president of the American Bar Association, introducing the morning’s keynote speaker, Mr. Tommy Wells.
Mr. Wells is the immediate past-president of the American Bar Association and a partner and founding member at Maynard, Cooper & Gale in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Wells spoke about an attorney’s “Call to the Bar.”
“We must not allow our ‘Call to the Bar’ to go unanswered,” Mr. Wells said. “It is more than a mere request or suggestion – it is our duty.”
Mr. Wells outlined three ways to expand access to justice: (1) fund legal aid programs; (2) maintain an independent judiciary; and (3) recruit pro bono attorneys. He then described how the American Bar Association works to support access to justice.
“We are all members of an honored profession built on the foundation of justice,” Mr. Wells ended. “Justice serves as the rock upon which our republic firmly rests.”
(Click here to view a transcript of Mr. Wells' speech.)
Walmart Leadership Gift
After Mr. Wells’ speech, The Walmart Foundation and the Walmart Legal Department presented $100,000 to Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission.
During the check presentation, Kerry Kotouc, Associate General Counsel for the Walmart Foundation, emphasized Walmart’s commitment to helping all Americans gain access to legal services.
“Giving back has been a part of Walmart’s culture since our founder, Sam Walton, opened his first store, and we continue this focus by helping the underserved through charitable giving,” Ms. Kotouc said. “Our work with Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission reflects this belief in, and our commitment to, giving back to our home state.”
Half of the gift is a grant to Legal Aid of Arkansas. The grant will allow Legal Aid of Arkansas to create a Medical-Legal Partnership, which will provide clients with onsite access to legal services in the clinical healthcare setting.
The rest of the gift is a donation to the Promise of Justice Campaign. The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission will divide the funds between Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. Both organizations will use the funds to address issues raised by low-income clients, including family law, consumer practice, financial, housing and employment matters. Through their initiatives, both organizations aim to close the justice gap between the legal needs of low-income persons and their ability to obtain legal guidance.
“The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission is honored by Walmart’s generosity,” said Professor Chuck Goldner, chair of the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission. “Walmart has always given back to the community, and it continues this tradition with this generous gift.”
The Status of Poverty in Arkansas and the Need for Legal Aid
After Walmart presented its leadership gift, Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber and Mr. Jon Comstock gave a co-presentation titled “The Status of Poverty in Arkansas and the Need for Legal Aid.”
Justice Imber, an associate justice on the Supreme Court of Arkansas and the Court’s representative to the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, began the presentation by introducing the members of the Commission. She explained why the Commission was created, and she described some of the Commission’s accomplishments since its formation.
Then Mr. Comstock, an attorney in the Walmart Legal Department, described the extent of poverty in Arkansas. For instance, one in five Arkansans qualify for legal aid, he said. Of those who qualify, 28,000 Arkansans call the legal aid HelpLine each year. However, he added, half are turned away because the legal aid organizations lack adequate resources to handle so many clients.
Justice Imber then spoke about Model Rule 6.1 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states: “Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.”
Justice Imber said many attorneys think that by donating $400 each year to legal aid, they are relieved of any pro bono work. However, to follow Model Rule 6.1, she said, attorneys should actually donate their hourly billing rate multiplied by 50 hours.
“Have you made that financial commitment?” Justice Imber asked. “I’ll leave that question unanswered.”
Mr. Comstock closed the presentation by talking about the Promise of Justice Campaign, which this year hopes to raise $500,000 for legal aid in Arkansas.
(Click here to view Justice Imber and Mr. Comstock's PowerPoint Presentation.)
Lunch
During lunch, Justice Imber introduced Justice Jess Dickinson, an associate justice on the Supreme Court of Mississippi and a charter member of the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission.
Justice Dickinson began his speech by commending the legal aid attorneys in attendance.
“You are my heroes,” he said.
He then told of the many ways in which the Supreme Court of Mississippi has improved access to justice. These include mandatory reporting of pro bono hours and mandatory IOLTA.
After Justice Dickinson’s speech, Prof. Chuck Goldner, chair of the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, presented Mr. Wells and Justice Dickinson with honorary gifts. Both were given Arkansas Traveler certificates and boxes of assorted Arkansas products.
Discussion Groups
Immediately before and after lunch, conference attendees split into four discussion groups. Each group focused on one of four areas of civil law: family, consumer, housing, and public benefits.
During the morning sessions, participants heard from Access to Justice Commissioners and legal aid attorneys about problems that low-income Arkansans face within their areas of poverty law. During the afternoon sessions, participants reconvened and developed solutions to those problems.
At the end of the day, group leaders presented the results of their discussion groups to the rest of the conference attendees. The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission will compile these results into a report and submit it to law journals throughout the state.
Click here to view photos from the Promise of Justice Conference.
