NCJ Number
54834
Journal
Law and Society Review Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 275-300
Date Published
1978
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THE TURNOVER PROBLEM OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM IS DISCUSSED. LAWYERS' INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM AND THE DILEMMAS CONFRONTING STAFF LEADERSHIP ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
CLIENTS OF LEGAL SERVICES ARE USUALLY POOR, AND POOR PEOPLE TYPICALLY DO NOT BRING PROBLEMS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE LAWYERS IN THE FORM IN WHICH RESOURCEFUL CLIENTS PRESENT PROBLEMS TO THEIR LAWYERS. BECAUSE THE CLIENTS ARE OF LOW SOCIAL STATUS, THEIR CONTACTS WITH THE LAWYERS ARE GENERALLY SHORT-TERM. THE ABSENCE OF LONG-TERM INVOLVEMENTS WITH CLIENTS IS ONE OF THE REASONS LEGAL SERVICES' LAWYERS DO NOT STAY LONG. IT IS ALSO MAINTAINED THAT THESE TYPES OF CLIENTS DO NOT BRING THE KINDS OF SOPHISTICATED PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CHALLENGE STAFF. BESIDES THE FACT THAT TURNOVER IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A GRADUAL WEARING DOWN OF THE NOVELTY OF THE JOB, MANY OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE LAWYERS HAVE THEIR EYES ON A LONG-TERM CAREER, AND WORK AT THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM IS SEEN AS SHORT TERM. FURTHERMORE, THE TURNOVER PROBLEM BECOMES CYCLICAL. BECAUSE OF THE TURNOVER, THE STAFF USUALLY CONSISTS OF FEW LAWYERS WHO HAVE REMAINED WITH THE AGENCY FOR OVER 1 YEAR, AND THIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN THE AGENCY. ORGANIZATIONAL STABILITY IS QUESTIONABLE; WORK QUALITY MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED, AND ALL OF THIS CAN AFFECT MORALITY. THE ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM A GIVEN RATE OF TURNOVER WOULD BE DIMINISHED BY ARRANGING STAFF RELATIONS HIERARCHICALLY SO THAT CLIENT PROBLEMS WERE EXPANSIVELY DEFINED FROM THE TOP. LEADERSHIP ROLES MUST BE BETTER DEFINED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (MLC)