VBF Grantee Spotlight |
Would you like to get a free book and earn the distinction of being published in the Vermont Bar Journal at the same time ? Books are available for review now .
Just in — The Social Media Marketing Blueprint for Lawyers , by Anthony Marrone . Anthony presented at our Solo and Small Firm Conference in May and received amazing reviews such as : “ excellent seminar ” with an “ excellent presenter ” with a “ wealth of good ideas and good information .” The book certainly delivers .
Marrone compares social media marketing to gardening — you have to water it daily , and occasionally pull out weeds , but a properly planted garden can be extremely fruitful . He takes the time to go through the use and benefits of many platforms such as Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn , Snapchat and more , demonstrating each successful campaign as he goes . Written for lawyers , he also discusses the ethical implications of the use of social media .
First one to promise a proper book review for the journal gets this amazing book ! You won ’ t be disappointed . Don ’ t delay , contact me at jeb @ vtbar . org today !
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and providing clerical support to the attorneys .
The clinic is scheduled on the first Monday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p . m . At each session , two volunteer attorneys are selected to render advice . On average , each attorney will see three clients per session . When a prospective client calls the clinic , they are asked to provide their name , contact information , a description of the problem and the names of the opposing parties . The attorneys are provided with the names of the clients and the opposing parties the week before they are scheduled so that conflict checks can be made . Similar information is gathered on an intake form when a client arrives . As with most clinics , the advice given is meant to steer the client in the right direction or help to fill out legal forms . Clients who need more in-depth legal assistance are referred to appropriate counsel . Quality control is achieved by the use of a post-interview questionnaire that provides valuable feedback for the staff . Neil estimates that 95 % of the clients served report they found the clinic to be helpful .
The reputation of the clinic has grown over the years , to the extent that most referrals are by word of mouth . This is a testament to the willingness of the participating attorneys to generously share their time and skill . In fact , some attorneys go above and beyond to give the assistance the client needs . In one case , a client was concerned that the 30 minute time slot would not be sufficient to address his problem . The attorney was able to have the client return that same night for a later session so that his problem could be fully considered . The client was satisfied and grateful to the attorney for extending his session .
Sometimes , the clinic can be a catalyst for conflict resolution . In another case , a client arrived looking for advice on a divorce matter . Two months later , a clinic attorney was asked to advise a tenant on a renter rebate issue . It turned out that the earlier client was the tenant ’ s landlord . The caseworker for the CRJC legal program worked with both parties to get the rebate form filed by the landlord and instruct the tenant on rebate procedures .
In so many cases , the clinic can have a very real impact on a client ’ s life . One example is of an elderly woman who had been evicted from her apartment and had been forced to live with unwelcoming family members . The family denied her access to a phone , and she had no transportation . Fortunately , she was ambulatory , and walked to the clinic . The coordinator was able to assist her in providing information to a housing agency , which allowed her to move into a new apartment , away from her abusive and financially exploitative family .
Legal clinics have the potential to solve
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many problems related to access to justice . They are often the first opportunity indigent clients have to deal with an attorney . Too often , people will rely on the half-baked advice of friends and neighbors because they feel that competent advice is beyond their means . The brief , informal settings give them a safe place to obtain reliable information and discuss their issues without worry about finances . For the participating attorneys , clinics provide an easy and efficient means to fulfil their obligations to their profession and to the community . But it is more than that . It is an opportunity for them to feel the satisfaction of using their knowledge and skill to help others who would otherwise be vulnerable to the complications of living in our highly regulated society . That is , after all , what many of us aspired to in our more idealistic youth .
The interest from your IOLTA accounts supports the CRJC and many other clinics in the VBF ’ s continuing mission to provide equal access to justice . For more information on the Vermont Bar Foundation , visit us at : https :// vtbarfoundation . org , and see how we make a difference . While you are there , please consider making a personal contribution . ____________________ Jesse D . Bugbee , Esq . is a shareholder with the firm of Kissane Associates in St . Albans , and is a member of the Vermont Bar Foundation Board of Directors . ____________________
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The enabling legislation is 28 V . S . A . § 2a , which states in part : “( a ) State policy . It is the policy of this State that principles of restorative justice be included in shaping how the criminal justice system responds to persons charged with or convicted of criminal offenses , and how the State responds to persons who are in contempt of child support orders . The policy goal is a community response to a person › s wrongdoing at its earliest onset , and a type and intensity of sanction tailored to each instance of wrongdoing .”
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