Recognition for Southern Utah Bar Association
The legitimate object of governments is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all or cannot, so well do for themselves – in their separate and individual capacities.
Abraham Lincoln
The same can be said for the legitimate object of the Bar, that is, to do for a community of people, that which they cannot do at all or so well for themselves. The Southern Utah Bar Association (SUBA) appears to have taken to heart the sentiments of Lincoln, forging a rich tradition of service to the community. SUBA has taken upon itself the mission to provide legal services to those most in need in their community.
For years, SUBA has sponsored a popular CLE program. Its December program drew approximately 160 attorneys in 2007. At least half of those in attendance haled from Northern or Central Utah. The proceeds of those programs are donated each year to a charitable organization. SUBA was able to donate nearly $10,000 this past year from their CLE program to those in need of legal services.
For many years, the Tuesday Night Bar program has provided free legal consultations for needy residents along the Wasatch Front. Southern Utah residents did not enjoy the same opportunity. The law firm of Snow Jensen & Reece offered a private program they called “Talk To A Lawyer” providing no cost 15-20 minute conversations with an attorney from their firm regarding common legal disputes. Last year, the eleven members of the Board of SUBA started to formulate a plan to sponsor a Tuesday Night Bar Program for Southern Utah involving lawyers throughout the community, offering services to a broader range of individuals in need. Soon the idea blossomed into the “Southern Utah Community Legal Center,” a facility dedicated to providing pro bono legal services.
At first blush, the idea of a small regional bar establishing, funding and staffing a comprehensive legal clinic, seemed daunting. But under the assault of the combined energies of Adam Caldwell and Lowry Snow the project quickly took shape, gaining momentum and support. With the assistance of And Justice For All, the Bar Foundation and contributions from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as seed money the funding of the project became a possibility.
SUBA took on the task of raising the remainder of the funds necessary for the legal center. They sponsored a golf tournament and charity dinner. The event was a smashing success, raising over $30,000 to fund the center. The Southern Utah Community Legal Center was born. The Center has a full-time paralegal and provides attorneys interview rooms, a conference room, and is planning to make work space and internet access available to pro se litigants using the court’s on-line program.
Besides providing the Tuesday Night Bar program to the community, the Center provides available offices, services and resources for a variety of pro bono legal services including, Utah Legal Services and The Disability Law Center. The Board of SUBA meets monthly to review potential pro bono cases, making case referrals to its members. SUBA members provide support through their consultation services at the Tuesday Night Bar, the handling of referred pro bono cases, and financial contributions.
SUBA’s support for the community does not stop there. For this last year’s Law Day program, SUBA sponsored a “Citizen’s Bee” for Southern Utah high schools. They involved fourteen high schools and thousands of students. Adam Caldwell prepared a 100 question test administered to the students. The top 40 students from the schools were brought together in a public
spelling bee format to respond to questions on government, history and politics. Over $10,000 donated by SUBA was awarded to the students.
As part of the court’s pilot program in the Fifth District to provide assistance to pro se litigants, SUBA recruited 40 of its members willing to offer unbundled legal services as a resource to those litigants. They also prepared an information packet to be distributed to pro se litigants as part of the program.
In recognition of its many contributions to the community, SUBA has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award. The Award will be presented to them at the Mid-Year Meeting of the Utah Bar.