The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission has submitted its fourth annual report to the Supreme Judicial Court. The report briefly summarizes the activities of the Commission from July 2008 to June 2009.
During the year, important positive steps supported by the Commission were taken on access to justice. Highlights include the report of the Boston Bar Association Task Force on Expanding the Civil Right to Counsel, the final report of the Court's Steering Committee on Self-Represented Litigants, appointment by Chief Justices Marshall and Mulligan of a Special Advisor for Access to Justice Initiatives, enactment of the Uniform Probate Code, amendment of the Uniform Small Claims Rules, and adoption of a Standing Order permitting Limited Assistance Representation statewide.
The Commission, recognizing the financial needs facing providers of legal services for the poor, proposed a rule change that would add $50 to each lawyer's annual registration statement unless the lawyer affirmatively opted out of the payment. The Commission also studied the impact of regionalization on the delivery system and discussed possible removal of some restrictions from Legal Services Corporation grants.
In addition, the Commission is examining two often-overlooked components of the Commonwealth's access-to-justice system: the activities of thousands of social service agency workers who provide legal information to low-income clients; and the role of administrative agencies of the Executive Branch, which administer and determine the legal rights of tens of thousands of low-income individuals.
For more information, see the Mass Access to Justice website, www.massaccesstojustice.org