NCJ Number
69427
Journal
DePaul Law Review Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 407-446
Date Published
1978
Length
40 pages
Annotation
QUALITIES NEEDED BY LAWYERS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO INSTITUTIONALIZED CLIENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED, AND MEANS FOR DEVELOPING SUCH QUALITIES ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION IS BASED ON THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCES AS DIRECTOR OF THE WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS CONDUCTED DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEWS WITH THOUSANDS OF INDIGENT CORRECTIONAL INMATES AND MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS. EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE TO SUCH CLIENTS REQUIRES THAT LAWYERS HAVE PARTICULAR QUALITIES AND SKILLS. THEY MUST BE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN WHICH CLIENT PROBLEMS CAN BE RELIEVED BY LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND WHICH MUST BE DEALT WITH BY OTHER MEANS. THIS REQUIRES THAT LAWYERS HAVE SENSITIVITY TO AND INSIGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS VOICED BY PERSONS ENTRAPPED IN A COMPLEX NETWORK OF NEEDS, AS WELL AS KNOWLEDGE OF SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL LAW. LAWYERS MUST UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS ON THE ACCUSED, THE CONVICTED, AND THE INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED. WITHOUT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF EACH ALTERNATIVE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RENDER ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE. IN GENERAL, LAWYERS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE RREQUIRED TO HELP CLIENTS MATCH THEIR NEEDS WITH THE MOST EFFECTIVE LEGAL APPROACH FOR MEETING THOSE NEEDS. THIS OBJECTIVE CAN BE AIDED BY FURTHER RESEARCH INTO CLIENTS' NEEDS AND HOW LAWYERS CAN BETTER SERVE THEM, BY ORGANIZING LAWYERS' OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT THE WHOLE CLIENT IS SERVED, AND BY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION AND UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION ORIENTED TOWARD THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACHES TO CLIENT'S NEEDS AS WELL AS ABSTRACT CONCEPTS OF LAW. A DESCRIPTION OF THE WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS APPENDED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.