Volunteer Lawyer for a Day Project in New York City Demonstrates that Clients Want Unbundled Legal Services from Qualified Attorneys

      In 2008, the American Bar Association published the results of a "test of unbundled legal services in the New York City Housing Court." The study showed that, just as many in the group expected, litigants were pleased with the unbundled legal services they received.

     Here's an excerpt:

"During the interviews with Judge Schneider, she stated that based on the tenants’ responses during settlement stipulation allocutions, she expected that tenants’ levels of satisfaction with the unbundled representation would be high.
As Judge Schneider hypothesized, the litigants were enthusiastically supportive of the program, and very grateful for the services they received. 

All the litigants spoken with and surveyed found the program helpful, and ninety-three percent found their attorney very helpful. 

Not one litigant had a complaint either about the program or their attorney. 

Among the comments generated by the focus group meeting and surveys taken, the litigants explained that having an attorney for just one morning made a big difference. 

The overriding feeling about the program was best summed up by one litigant at the focus group meeting who said that when you go to court without an attorney as opposed to with an attorney, you feel the landlord’s attorney has the power and you don’t; but, when you have a lawyer, you have the power too. (Emphasis added)."

Read the Entire Report:

VOLUNTEER LAWYER FOR A DAY PROJECT REPORT:

A Joint Report by: Office of the Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York, the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives and the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Legal Services to Persons of Moderate Means. February 2008.