NCJ Number
61566
Date Published
1979
Length
76 pages
Annotation
AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LEGAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM, DATA ON HOW THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY OPERATES ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PERSONNEL, LITIGATION ACTIVITIES, COUNSELING ACTIVITIES, LITIGATION PRIORITIES, INTERAGENCY DISPUTES, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT WAS SENT TO: (1) THE LITIGATING DIVISION ATTORNEYS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, (2) THE 94 UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS AND THEIR ASSISTANTS, (3) GENERAL COUNSELS AND OTHER KEY HEADQUARTERS OFFICES, AND (4) REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES. OVERALL, THE STUDY COVERED 12,396 (86 PERCENT) OF THE 14,387 LAWYERS PERFORMING CIVILIAN LEGAL WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE DATA COLLECTED PROVIDE THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-WIDE VIEW OF THE SYSTEM OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION SINCE 1954 WHEN THE HOOVER COMMISSION PROVIDED SUCH INFORMATION. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED TO GIVE THREE PRIORITY SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATION IN COURT AND THE LEGAL COUNSELING FUNCTION. ALL MAJOR GROUPS SURVEYED AGREED THAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED IN TRAINING PROGRAMS, INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION, AND THE STATUS OF GOVERNMENT LAWYERS. THIS REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE A BENCHMARK FOR FUTURE ANALYSES OF THE FEDERAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM. TABULAR DATA SUMMARIZING RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)