The Committee on Access to Justice (CAJ) continues to address its goal of increasing access of low-income people to the legal system with respect to environmental and land use law. During this period, the CAJ has focused on building linkages with other legal programs and organizations. Two initiatives are underway.

     First, the CAJ is working with the Statewide Pro Bono Director for Florida Legal Services, Inc. to increase awareness of the types of pro bono services needed by low-income people and also of the opportunities for members of The Florida Bar to provide these services. For example, many neighborhood associations in low-income communities have questions about activities proposed by local governments. They simply need assistance in understanding those activities and the appropriate officials to contact within government for additional information. Another example involves the need to evaluate property seized in drug-enforcement cases which is donated to neighborhood associations. These needs generally avoid conflict of interest concerns and can be addressed within the time period recommended by the Florida Supreme Court for pro bono service. The Statewide Pro Bono Director, Patricia Vail, is a former corporate lawyer for CSX Transportation who spent almost a year working as a volunteer lawyer in Kazakstan, one of the Republics of the former Soviet Union. She will assist in linking pro bono lawyers with the environmental and land use needs of low-income people.

     Second, the CAJ is exploring opportunities to work with the Public Interest Section of The Florida Bar on achieving this goal.The membership of the Public Interest Section includes Legal Services and Legal Aid lawyers, who could benefit from collaborations with members of the Environmental and Land Use Law Section. Deborah Schroth, upcoming Chair of the Public Interest Section, is interested in building upon previous joint efforts between the sections, which included an Environmental Committee within the Pubic Interest Section (led by ELULS Council member Ralf Brooks).

     Altogether, these measures are designed to link lawyers with low-income people in order to improve the administration of justice. They build upon previous efforts of the CAJ, including the Strategic Assembly on Justice and educational documents. For more information on the CAJ, contact Suzi Ruhl at sruhl@leaf-envirolaw.org.