User:AngelaEJimenezP/sandbox

East Bay Community Law Center
The East Bay Community Law Center provides free legal services to Alameda County residents. There are a variety of legal clinics and legal divisions within the EBCLC and each has its own criteria establishing potential clients' eligibility for receiving their services. The EBCLC has two locations in Berkeley with one location on University Ave and one on Adeline Street. The EBCLC provides Clean Slate Services, Community Economic Justice Clinic Services, Consumer Justice and General Clinic Services, Education Defense and Justice for Youth Services, Health and Welfare Services, Housing Services, and Immigration services.

Legal Services in Berkeley
Since my PE org, the East Bay Community Law Center, is located in Berkeley I want to learn what other legal services are available in Berkeley and how they might vary with cost, eligibility, and accessibility. This might tie in more under "eligibility", but I also want to know the geographical coverage of a client that each service covers.

Legal_aid_in_the_United_States I think I can contribute to the "California" section in this article by including information about the East Bay Community Law Center. No article already exists on the EBCLC which is why the information would be new and would also follow up the San Fransisco section well since both cities are in California.

Latinx Legal Aid Accessibility
I am interested specifically in the legal services available for Latinx clients and the accessibility of those services as they relate to Spanish Speaking and undocumented Latinx people. I want to know what programs or institutions are in place that notify Latinx people of legal services near them and what criteria comes with being eligible for those services. Another question I am interested is how accessibility to legal services might vary between Mexican and Central American people.

Legal_aid_in_the_United_States I can add to the "Impact" section by providing statistics and information on the impact the legal services by the EBCLC has had on low-income Latinx people in Alameda County. Specifically, the the results of debt collector cases amongst others. I can also touch on the language barrier accessibility through the EBCLC.

Article Evaluation
I think everything in the "Legal Aid in the United States" article is relevant and nothing seems to be distracting. I think the introduction can be improved where criminal and civil aid are compared and contrasted. Another improvement can be providing specific legal aid services/programs from other states. The article appears to be neutral over all. The section on "Legal Services Corporation" has some extra words that make certain statements appear biased, so that can be worked on. Words such as "grossly" in "grossly inadequate". Perhaps including an expanded viewpoint of the Supreme Court on civil aid would be helpful as to why they have ruled in favor of guaranteed criminal aid only. The links are working and they do support the claims of the article; they also provide extra information compared to whats offered in the original article. The sources are reliable and they appear to be neutral. In general "aid" is associated with helping those in need: the poor, low-income, disadvantage people etc. and most sources are about that. On the Talk page, it appears there was a question raised about the "Legal Services Corporation" section and it was deemed controversial. This is the section I also found to be biased. I'm not sure what the rating of the article is, but at the top of the article Wikipedia asks me to find citations because original research might have been implemented into the article. The Talk page and the conversations we've had in class are similar in that they both recognize different legal services possibilities in different parts of the country and the world.

Area
1) In this article, James George introduces the federal funding mechanisms of legal aid services in the United States. The article historicizes legal aid funding in the United States and provides alternative legal services if a type of funding is not applicable to a type of legal aid.

2) The following article historicizes the differences between civil and criminal legal aid in the United States and it analyzes the poverty relations of legal services and those who cannot afford it. It frames the criminal justice as adversarial and it introduces what that means in criminal law. The wiki article I have selected has both a criminal and civil law section and the content in this article will help me fill in the gaps that are missing.

3) This article argues that exposure to legal issues that fall under the umbrella of federal departments are necessary to incorporate federal support. Specifically, it highlights the legal-health efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the article highlights labor-legal efforts by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration and immigration legal services by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The intersection of executive and federal government support of legal aid services is also explored in this article.

4) The EBCLC is essentially involved in public interest law and this article focuses on the what public interest law engages with. It historicizes public interest law and describes its emergence as an effort towards promoting justice for the poor. Some of the interesting history of public interest law include assimilation efforts for immigrants and immigrant legal related issues. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act played a key role in public interest efforts at the time. Since public interest law is part of civil legal aid and a form of legal aid accessibility, I believe its history is important to include in the wiki article I will be editing.

5) The following article explores pro bono legal services and how they are practiced throughout the legal world. Pro bono services are categorized as the largest form of civil legal aid and since the EBCLC provides civil legal aid, this dynamic is worth exploring. The article explains when pro bono lawyers are used by courts and how they receive funding for case expenditures from the court. Contingent fee payment of lawyers is also explained in this article in relation to pro bono lawyers. This article will be useful in adding to the pro bono section in the the wiki article I will be editing.

6) In this article, California's 2009 Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is introduced that allowed for the cross over of civil aid programs relating to basic human needs. The article provides various studies and findings for the benefits and effectiveness of civil legal aid services throughout various US states. According to the article, legal aid for domestic abuse cases have reduced domestic violence rates overall and legal services for child welfare have kept families together. Additionally, the article claims civil legal aid helps not only individuals but communities as a whole by preventing domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosure. I can add some of these positive effects of legal aid in the US in my wiki article under the states section and under the civil aid section as well.

7) This article is really helpful because it breaks down LSC restrictions and how legal aid organizations that receive LSC funding are affected. LSC funded organizations cannot take funding from non LSC sources to pursue efforts contrary to the restrictions set forth from receiving LSC funding. LSC organizations for example cannot pursue class actions efforts and originally, they could not introduce legislation that contradicted state or federal regulations. I can add these LSC specifics under the LSC section in my wiki article to enhance it more. The article helped me put into context more what the EBCLC does and does not do.

8) This article describes the the rules and regulations that lawyers must follow with clients such as when they may withdraw from cases. It provides helpful information for the role of public interest lawyers which is the type of law the activities of the EBCLC would fall under. There is also helpful information regarding the scope of public interest clients and the state requirements for lawyers that are only able to provide limited representation.

9) The motivations behind pro-bono work and their method of legal aid services is explored in this article. The article provides specific statistics in regards to the extent of hours dedicated to pro-bono work by attorneys in recent years. Again, pro-bono work is the largest form of civil legal aid and the information of this article can be used to add to the pro-section in my wiki article.

Sector
1) In this article, it is argued that the institutional limitations of the income cut off are a main deterrence in certain legal aid services and especially for Latinos. The article frames the inaccessibility of legal services to Latinos as a resource and political economy problem as Katz argues.

2) This article argued for the promotion of an untraditional legal service – client relationship for Latina Women. It argued against legal aid agencies over looking the non-legal issues that are either inherent or the cause of their legal issues.

3) This article argues against how the Latino and Hispanic demographic derived in the U.S. and the stereotypes that are inherent with those demographics. This entire article talked on the needs talk perspectives of federal, local, and state agencies in regard to Latinos and the legal services they need.

4) The following article explores how legal aid organizations can improve with catering their services to hispanic/latino clients. It provides tangible suggestions such as staffing Spanish speaking attorneys, preparing a Spanish phone script, and attracting Spanish speaking volunteers by exploring hispanic culture more. The article also suggests how hispanics mistakingly take advice from notaries.

5) In this article, hispanic's impression of the criminal justice and legal aid services system is explored. According to the article, 44% of hispanics say they have little confidence courts will treat them fairly. It also suggests young latinos are less confident in the justice system than older Latinos. This article is helpful in gauging latinx interactions with legal aid services and the criminal justice system which the EBCLC caters to.

6) The following source is a book that conceptualizes Mexican American, or "Chicana" encounters with lawyers and specifically, public defenders. The functions of jailhouse lawyers are explored here and the limitations of public defenders are also presented here. This article gives me insight onto the accessibility of legal services for Mexican American women/ Chicanas in jails. The article provides context for the new section I am creating in my wiki article under "Civil legal aid impact in the latino community" for legal services available to the latino community.

7) An important aspect of legal aid services accessibility in the latinx community is impacted by the availability and existence of latinx lawyers. The following article explores the roles of latinx lawyers in providing legal aid services to latinx clients. It also reports on the extent of latinx lawyers in completing pro-bono work. Additionally, the article explores the barriers latinx clients face in obtaining legal services. This article will be helpful for adding content to the new section I am creating on legal aid impact in the latinx community.

8) The following articles explores how racially oriented policy is often pursued by lawyers from a different race than the one they are pursuing their legal interests. Explores the various factors that can prevent lawyers from helping latinx clients to their full extent such as lack of racial exposure and color consciousness. The article is a peer review of the article, "Reviewing Racism on Trial: The Chicano Fight for Justice" by Ian F. Haney Lopez. The article is helpful is providing the limitations and scope of services for latinx clients by lawyers which is the information I need for exploring legal aid accessibility in the latinx community.

9) This is perhaps my favorite sector article because it describes concrete modes in which latinx clients are directly impacted with lack of legal aid services. It also suggests a reason for the methods in which latinx clients might perceive the legal aid services they are seeking and the legal system they are engaging with. It also provides recommendations on how to serve latinx clients. All of this information contributes to my analysis on the accessibility of legal services in the latinx community.

Area
From the sources I found, I have learned so much about the external factors that play into the availability of legal aid services. I have also conceptualized how federal funding and federal governmental departments, or the lack thereof play a key role in the legal service organizations that exist throughout the United States. Additionally, the content found in my articles conceptualize what efforts are restricted by legal aid organizations depending on their source of funding. In the wiki article for area, there are different states listed and various legal aid organizations that exist in those states, so the information regarding federal involvement and funding in the legal aid services provided is helpful in examining budgets and outreach. All nine articles have also presented the legal aid models that exist in criminal and civil law which my wiki article also has differentiating paragraphs on this topic.

Sector
Prior to the articles I selected, I thought that me being Latina brought a unique perspective when dealing with Latino clients in the EBCLC, but the discourse on needs talk perspectives has shifted my thinking. I think I associated Latinidad with common backgrounds, barriers, and a common need for expert lawyer aid. The articles have helped me see what different barriers might be in place throughout the Latino community in accessing legal services. It has also helped me rethink of my position as an “expert volunteer” to “facilitator” contributing to the humanization of the clients as opposed to seeing them as legal subjects. In essence it has made me shift my perspective on how I interact with Latino clients at the EBCLC. The articles I have found have also suggest tangible ways that legal aid organizations can cater to Latinx clients more effectively. I have also found statistics and material that links how the criminal justice system disproportionately affects Latinx clients' sentencing in courts with lack of legal aid services.

Drafting

 * I AM USING THE SAME ARTICLE FOR AREA AND SECTOR

AREA DRAFTING'''Many legal aid organizations refuse to take LSC money, and can continue to file class actions and directly lobby legislatures on behalf of the poor. Many organizations that provide civil legal services are heavily dependent on Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts for funding.. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE under LSC section) '''

Some civil aid organizations accept private donations and grants if they refuse LSC funding.

'''The federal government and some states have offices of public defenders who assist indigent defendants, while other states have systems for outsourcing the work to private lawyers. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER CRIMINAL AID SECTION)'''

Although public defenders are required to be provided at the trial level, free attorney services for appeals and appeals court are often not available. Funding for criminal aid come from both U.S. States and the U.S. federal government.

Civil legal aid is not guaranteed under federal law, but is provided by a variety of public interest law firms and community legal clinics for free or reduced cost.(TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER INTRO SECTION)

Other forms of civil legal aid are available through federally funded legal services, pro bono lawyers, and private volunteers.

'''The San Francisco City Counsel *COUNCIL* passed an ordinance in 2012 declaring its intention to make San Francisco the first city to guarantee a right to counsel. In June 2018, San Francisco implemented a "Right to Counsel" program guaranteeing legal representation to tenants facing eviction.(TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER CA Section) '''

The East Bay Community Law Center provides free legal services to Alameda County residents. There are a variety of legal clinics from Berkeley Boalt Law School and legal divisions within the EBCLC and each has its own criteria establishing potential clients' eligibility for receiving their services. The EBCLC has two locations in Berkeley with one location on University Ave and one on Adeline Street. The EBCLC provides Clean Slate Services, Community Economic Justice Clinic Services, Consumer Justice and General Clinic Services, Education Defense and Justice for Youth Services, Health and Welfare Services, Housing Services, and Immigration services.

'''The 2009 Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act created a number of pilot programs in order to assess the benefits of civil legal aid, and the logistics of wider implementation. A 2017 study examined 10 of these legal aid programs, and found that recipients of aid had greatly improved prospects in eviction cases. 67% of cases settled, an increase of 33% compared to self pro se (self represented) cases.Critically, the study found that, "while all Shriver clients received eviction notices, only 6% were ultimately evicted from their homes." (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER CA Section)'''

If income requirements are not met, Legal Services Corporation funded legal aid organizations in California cannot provide services to constituents and this disproportionally affects latinos living in California.

'''The 2009 Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act created a number of pilot programs in order to assess the benefits of civil legal aid, and the logistics of wider implementation. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER CALIFORNIA SECTION)'''

The 2009 Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act created a number of pilot programs that advanced representation in civil aid cases regarding basic human needs in order to assess the benefits of civil legal aid, and the logistics of wider implementation.

'''New York City became the first place in the US to guarantee legal services to all tenants facing eviction with the passage of the "Right to Counsel Law" in 2017. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER NEW YORK SECTION)'''

Historically, civil legal aid in the United States began in New York with the founding of the Legal Aid Society of New York in 1876. In 2017, New York City became the first place in the US to guarantee legal services to all tenants facing eviction with the passage of the "Right to Counsel Law".

'''Legal aid organizations that take LSC money tend to have more staff and services and can help more clients, but must also conform to strict government regulations that require careful timekeeping and prohibit lobbying and class actions. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER LSC SECTION)'''

Organizations that receive LSC funding cannot take funding from non LSC sources to pursue legislative efforts that contradict LSC regulations. In addition to lobbying and class actions, LSC organizations cannot purse abortion related litigation and cannot advance certain state or federal welfare challenges. LSC organizations are not able to conduct workshops related to political activities and advocacy as well.

'''The problem of chronic underfunding of legal aid traps the lower middle class in no-man's-land: too rich to qualify for legal aid, too poor to pay an attorney in private practice. To remedy the ongoing shortage of legal aid services, some commentators have suggested that mandatory pro bono obligations ought to be required of all lawyers, just as physicians working in emergency rooms are required to treat all patients regardless of ability to pay. However, most such proposals have been successfully fought off by bar associations. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER PRO BONO SECTION)'''

Pro bono services are sometimes awarded by Courts in cases related to employment, sex discrimination, consumer credit and fraud amongst others.

'''Legal aid for civil cases is currently provided by a variety of public interest law firms and community legal clinics, who often have "legal aid" or "legal services" in their names. (TAKEN FROM WIKI ARTICLE UNDER CIVIL AID SECTION)'''

Public interest practice emerged from the goal of promoting access to equal justice for the poor and this was inspired from the legal services disparity amongst European immigrants.

'''Studies have established legal aid as providing such benefits as decreasing homelessness as well as the need for emergency shelters through reducing evictions. (TAKEN UNDER IMPACT SECTION FROM WIKI ARTICLE)'''

Over the last two decades, civil legal aid services have shown to save the homes of more than 6000 tenants in New York according to the 1996 study by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Sector Section/New Section created in the Article
  '''To remedy the ongoing shortage of legal aid services, some commentators have suggested that mandatory pro bono obligations ought to be required of all lawyers, just as physicians working in emergency rooms are required to treat all patients regardless of ability to pay.[33] However, most such proposals have been successfully fought off by bar associations. (UNDER PRO BONO SECTION OF MY WIKI ARTICLE)'''

 

The American Bar Association claims it is a lawyer's professional duty to perform 50 hours of legal pro bono work for poor people annually. 1/3 of Latino lawyers perform pro-bono work and 49% of latino lawyers report to meet this 50 hour annual quota with 8.3% report to providing 200 hours or more.

'''However, most such proposals have been successfully fought off by bar associations. (UNDER PRO BONO SECTION OF MY WIKI ARTICLE)'''

Such proposals have been mostly fought off by bar associations successfully.

Civil legal aid impact in the latino community
Legal services available for Latino and Hispanic clients vary. This clientele can include Spanish speaking and undocumented clients. Latinos often mistake notaries as legal organizations and they turn to notaries for legal advice that they are unqualified to give.

Limitations of civil legal aid for the latino community
The relationship between the Hispanic community and legal aid services can be described as low in confidence. 44% of Hispanics say they have little confidence courts will treat them fairly and 49% believe they will be treated fairly. 19% of Latinos say they or an immediate family member have attended court or have been involved in a criminal matter with brief attorney services. Institutional limitations such as income cut off quotas are a main deterrence in obtaining certain legal aid services for Latinos. For many Hispanic clients, poverty, family composition, and demographics determine social and legal aid needs. Non-legal such as stalking, domestic abuse, visa expiration, and language barrier can also affect latino client's ability to access legal aid. Lack of diverse racial consciousness can prevent lawyers from providing adequate services for latino clients. At the criminal level, Public defenders often times do not speak Spanish and they tend to recommend plea-bargaining over trials for latino clients.

Serving latino and hispanic clients
When latino clients have negative encounters with the criminal justice system in their latin country, they struggle to understand the legal system of the United States. When providing legal services for Latino clients, legal practitioners should ask what nationality or ethnic group the client is from. Attorneys and legal aid providers should not assume Latino or Hispanic clients speak Spanish and they should ask to confirm what languages they do speak. It is recommended that legal organizations have Spanish translated documents about legal proceedings so that Spanish speaking clients can understand legal terminology. Undocumented latinos can suffer additional immigration consequences because the legal representation received by latino clients in this field of law lack cultural and immigration background.

Latino lawyers
Latino lawyers serve as resources for advocacy and leadership in the latino community. They are more likely to be a part of a small firm or work in the field of public service and non profit legal services. Latinos make up 3% of lawyers and they are inadequately represented as partners or associates of large law firms, prosecutors, and defense attorney's.