By Guest Blogger, Erika Holmes
The CBA’s Modest Means Task Force has been renamed – the Modern Law Practice Initiative! “Why the new name?” you ask. The reason for the name change is two-fold: first, to stop the misperception that this type of law practice only helps poor people, and second, to develop a moniker for this innovative way to practice law that provides enormous benefits for both clients and attorneys.
The Modest Mean Task Force was formed in 2012 to educate lawyers and judges about the justice gap – the huge portion of society (almost 60% of civil litigants) who make too much money to get a lawyer through public assistance but don’t make enough money to hire an attorney at traditional rates. MLPI’s mission is still the same – to serve this portion of the population. However, MLPI is striving to further educate both lawyers and the public that the justice gap doesn’t consist of just people of modest means. The justice gap is comprised of people across the full spectrum of income levels, including people with middle to upper-middle class incomes. By practicing modern representation, a lawyer can run a thriving, sustainable, and fulfilling practice by providing legal services to this largely untapped market.
The Modern Law Practice Initiative is expounding on its original mission by providing lawyers with the motivation and the specific means to engage in this exciting new method of law practice management. Modern representation is about more than providing legal services at an affordable rate. Modern representation is about practicing law in a manner that is beneficial for both the client and the lawyer in terms of feasibility, flexibility, versatility – and even enjoyability! MLPI’s goal is to teach lawyers how to create a sustainable law practice that simultaneously helps solve the access to justice gap and provides the lawyer with a fulfilling and prosperous career.
Check out MLPI’s new website for access to the latest version of Successful Business Planning for the Modern Law Practice, a step-by-step guide to creating a sustainable modern law practice. MLPI will also highlight for lawyers the best resources for creating and sustaining a modern law practice through CLE’s, books, technology, mentoring, networking, volunteer opportunities, and more. Discover what it means to be a modern lawyer and to be part of a win-win solution to the access to justice dilemma!
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