MBA
program will target clients of modest means
By
Jack Zemlicka
Wisconsin Law Journal
July
12, 2006
 |
“It’s
kind of the middle ground. There is a huge need for a program like this to benefit
both lawyers and the community.”
Britt Bellinger,
Director
MBA Lawyer Referral & Information Service |
Finding
a lawyer can be a headache. Finding the right lawyer on a limited budget can be
downright painful.
The
Milwaukee Bar Association is hoping to provide a remedy.
A
new initiative called Modest Means is scheduled to launch Aug. 1 with the purpose
of providing affordable legal assistance to people of moderate and lower incomes.
Much
like the MBA's established Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) and
organizations like Legal Aid and Legal Action, the new program will filter assistance
from a pool of attorneys in a variety of fields to qualified candidates.
Modest
Means will also help fill the financial gap between conventional legal rates and
full public assistance initiatives.
"It's
kind of the middle ground," stated Britt Bellinger, Lawyer Referral &
Information Service Director for the MBA. "There is a huge need for a program
like this to benefit both lawyers and the community."
The
mutually beneficial project is structured around flexibility and convenience according
to Bellinger.
Attorneys
will be able to regulate their referrals to coincide with their regular practice,
while potential clients can enjoy expert representation in a variety of fields.
"There
are occasionally open houses for lower income people to find a lawyer, but often
times it's a grab bag of problems and the specialized attention isn't always there,"
said Andrew Frank, one of the first attorneys to join Modest Means. "This
program will provide a more direct route to personalized assistance."
Significant
reductions in retainer fees, litigation surcharges and other legal costs highlight
benefits for the community.
Attorneys
will find extensive rewards through Modest Means as well, according to Bellinger.
"It's
an opportunity for lawyers to get some experience in other areas of law, expand
their practice, fill free time or transition into retirement," said Bellinger.
"Plus, it's a chance to feel good about helping the community."
At
least 10 attorneys have already committed to the panel, which is free to join,
with more expected to enlist in the future depending on the success rate of the
program.
MBA
Executive Director Jim Temmer has little doubt Modest Means will flourish from
the start because of the tangible market.
"In
the past, people would call or stop in seeking help and now instead of saying
sorry and hanging up, we can say, 'Here's an option that may work,'" said
Temmer.
"This
is something our board of directors has fully supported because of its positive
impact on the public and the local legal community."
Temmer
also hopes the results would help unclog the court system by way of better representation
and smoother case resolutions.
Already
a member of the LRIS and an attorney at Quale, Feldbruegge, Calvelli, Thom &
Croke S.C., Frank hopes to handle a client a month for Modest Means.
"I
think word of mouth will really help and expand membership," said Frank.
"Personally, this is something I wanted to get involved in."
For
more information on the Modest Means program, contact Britt Bellinger at 414-276-5931.
Jack
Zemlicka can be reached by email.
