LRI: Management: Client Centered Practices

T hroughout California, a number of organizations, mostly for-profit paralegal services, use the name "Legal Aid." This causes enormous client confusion, as clients seeking free legal assistance are referred to these other organizations by the phone book and by 411 information operators. Using a coordinated strategy of litigation and technology, the California programs are attempting to combat the problem by redirecting clients to their offices rather than the phony "Legal Aid" organizations.

Legal Services of Northern California successfully sued one organization in their area, and obtained a published appellate opinion (See attachment below). Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is currently suing a local offender for a variety of causes of action, including violation of a common law trademark in the name "Legal Aid."

On the technology front, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, on behalf of the California LSC programs, applied for a grant to provide a technological solution to protect clients. Even though they were unsuccessful in obtaining the grant, they are exploring other options for technological solutions.

In 2007, Action Plan for Justice a report of the California Commission on Access to Justice included as one of the 27 recommendations to consider legislation to prohibit the fraudulent use of the term "legal aid". The full report can be found at http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/reports/2007_Action-Plan-Justice.pdf.

For more information about this project, please visit the link below.

Contact Information:

Toby Rothschild
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
1102 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: (323) 801-7978
FAX: (323) 801-7945
Email

Additional Information:

Management

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