f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

sat. pm potluck

 

1] Sorry, Mom, I can’t help ya:  Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Bar’s

ULP Opinion 207 (Feb. 18, 2004), which concluded that a lawyer-trained social worker

would be guilty of the unlawful practice of law by assisting pro se litigants in the preparation,

or even the selection, of forms for Small Claims Court.  Virginia’s Bar Council met today (Feb.

19) in Richmond to consider approving, disapproving or modifying the opinion.  

The legal reform group HALT (f/k/a Help Abolish Legal Tyranny) submitted

comments to the Virginia State Bar on Feb. 17, 2005, pointing out that Virginia’s

Small Claims courts require the use of unusually difficult forms and, “The vast majority

of Virginia small claims litigants are unable to complete court forms unassisted.  If the

Virginia Small Claims Division is to serve any meaningful function as an accessible

arbiter of justice, litigants must be allowed to use the assistance of nonlawyers.”  HALT

has a small claims reform project that is fighting for the use of plain-English forms and

in-person assistance to consumers at the courts.

2] HALT‘s Feb. 16, 2005 newsletter suggests that bar groups are continuing to act like

guilds — putting their interests before clients’ interests and rights — while courts have

been at the forefront of assisting pro se litigants and the self-help legal movement.  Examples:

• 
  
  The Georgia State Bar may adopt a proposal preventing nonlawyers from
  
  
  drafting articles of incorporation.
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  The Montana State Bar Association is “gagging” consumers from speaking

  
  

  publicly about their complaints against lawyers. A consumer will face punishment

  
  

  if she decides to disclose to anyone, including family membersand friends, that she

  
  

  has filed a complaint.
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  

  In January 2005, the Wisconsin Board of Governors rejected the new ABA Ethics

  
  

  2000 rule requiring written fee agreements. 

 

On the other hand, thank you, Your Honor:

• 
  
  Throughout 2005, one of Hawaii’s family courts will hold monthly sessions of
  
  
  “Divorce Law in Hawaii,” a free session for the public offering an overview on
  
  
  the process and tips on finding self-help resources.
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  Wisconsinites going through a divorce will have a new resource starting in spring

  
  

  2005. The court system is putting the finishing touches on a project to create a set

  
  

  of standardized pro se divorce forms that can be used throughout the state. These

  
  

  forms will be available in courthouses and on the state’s Web site.

                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                          Sam B., click for original

 

3]  Now I understand:  It appears that both Prof. Steven Bainbridge and his then-puppy, Sam,

were exposed to significant amounts of Purple Snow a number of years ago.   Given the well-

known effects of purple rain and purple haze on other celebrities, the weblawgger a/k/a Prof. B.

can perhaps be excused for actin’ funny and asking “is it tomorrow or just the end of time?”

 It does not appear that Steve is yet affiliated with this, this, or that product. 

  Speaking of the scent of money, given the extraordinary canine sense of 

smell [50 to 100 times better than that of humans, per this source, and “thousands of times”

better, per this report], I wonder which wines are Sam’s favorites — and whether Sam is a 

partner over at this weblog.  I bet he works for scraps — under the table.

 

 

 

scattering onto
my purple sleeves…
spring snow

 

on purple clouds
when will I set sail?
western sea

 

ISSA, translated by David G. Lanoue

 

 Declare Victory, and then Do It Again:  I got an email today from the Not One Damn Dime folks.

Despite our skepticism over slacktivism, the NODDites claim their spending-boycott on Inauguration Day

“was a huge success.”  And, on April 15th they’re gonna do nothing again — this time for the cause of

“responsible spending.”   I like the cause.  However, the now-revealed initiator of NODD, communications

professional and political junkie, Pete Smith of Minnesota, does not seem to be in touch with political

reality.  (Pete and Daily Kos’ Rabid Nation might have to take a paternity test to settle just who is the

progenitor of NODD.)