Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Vermont Bar Journal, Fall 2018, Vol. 44, No. 3 | Page 25

www.vtbar.org monters who would have otherwise been without legal assistance in their civil, pro- bate and family cases. Participating lawyers also contributed a total of 200 pro bono hours to the cases. With our share of a US Department of Justice Victims of Crime Act grant, the VBA provided low bono pay- ments to lawyers who represent crime vic- tims in legal matters arising from their vic- timization.  In the VOCA project last fiscal year, we placed 54 cases with low bono at- torneys, and the attorneys collectively do- nated 42.2 pro bono hours over and above the hours they billed. Effective January 1, 2018, the Vermont Supreme Court award- ed two grants to the VBA to continue and expand statewide low bono legal represen- tation in two categories of cases.  With one grant, the VBA pays low bono lawyers to represent respondents in adult involuntary guardianship cases.  With the other grant, private attorneys are paid a low bono sti- pend to assist foster/adopting parents as they negotiate and enter into post adop- tion contact agreements with relinquish- ing parents. If you would like to be add- ed to the rosters of participating attorneys, please contact VBA Legal Access Coordi- nator Mary Ashcroft at [email protected]. THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2018 As always, we strive to bring you the lat- est membership products and services, as evidenced by the numerous sponsors and exhibitors at our major meetings, and as detailed in the “Affinity Partners” sec- tion on the website. Be sure to take ad- vantage of the substantial discounts avail- able for consulting, credit card processing, practice management, health insurance, personal insurances, retirement program, marketing software, professional liability insurance, rental cars, and shipping servic- es. Our newest partners include Red Cave Consulting, TurboLaw, HealthiestYou, and Sugarbush Ski Area. None of the above accomplishments would have been possible without the hard work and complete dedication of the amaz- ing VBA staff. I am deeply indebted to them, as well as to the VBA Board of Man- agers for providing excellent leadership for your Vermont Bar Association. Please know that we are all at your service, and appreci- ate whatever recommendations you might have to bring even more value to your VBA membership. aminations, and closing statements. Mem- bers of the VBA Young Lawyers Division served as volunteer witnesses, and VLS stu- dents served as timekeepers. Stay tuned for the Third Annual Trial Academy in the Summer of 2019! Our Vermont Lawyer Referral Service continues to work well for clients in need of Vermont counsel, and for the 157 LRS panel members who earned more than $1,200,000.00 in LRS revenue this past year. The VBA fielded 7,182 LRS calls, av- eraging 598 calls per month. We printed and distributed VBA business cards with the LRS 800 number, the VT Free Legal An- swers website, and the “Modest Means” website to all of the Vermont state court- houses, numerous public libraries, and many veteran centers throughout Vermont. If you’re not already an LRS member, con- sider joining for the low cost of $70.00 per year. Your next big case could be an LRS referral! Regarding Access to Justice initiatives, the VBA is grateful to the Vermont Bar Foundation for funding the seven different County Bar Legal Assistance Projects cov- ering nine counties, which provided legal representation to over 130 low income Ver- 25