This seminar will focus on the problem of provision of legal services to prison inmates in family law cases. In the class sessions, we will be exploring several different models for provision of legal services, through readings and guest speakers. Near the beginning of the semester, each student will propose a project or service that would assist prison inmates in pursuing their family law needs in some way other than direct representation. Each student in the seminar will work on his or her project throughout the semester, researching how it could be actualized, making preliminary contacts, outlining proposals, identifying steps toward implementing it, identifying difficulties that will be faced in implementing it, or, in the case of a limited project, perhaps completing the development of some kind of aid or service that could be put into use in the prison systems. At the end of the semester, students will report on the progress they have made in their project, and propose what future steps, if any, should be taken to implement it.

Tues. 1/25
General introduction and discussion of the semester projects
Inmate requests will be handed out to students.

Tues. 2/1
Discussion of request summaries: brainstorming needs and solutions
In preparation for this class, students will prepare one-paragraph summaries of the inmate requests that were handed out to them. At the conclusion of this class, students will pick a discrete project to pursue during the semester and report on at the end of the semester.

Tues. 2/8
What's available: web sites and forms
In preparation for this class, students will review available pro se forms, including our own forms, forms available from clerks of courts, and materials available on the internet, and will their own knowledge of practice, gained last semester. Students will come to class prepared to report on the usefulness of the forms they reviewed for their clients.

Tues. 2/15
The clerk's dilemma: unauthorized practice of law
In preparation for this class, students will read materials handed out to them about the ethical and legal problems facing nonlawyers in attempting to provide assistance to pro se litigants.

Tues. 2/22
"Unbundling" of legal services: ethical and practical issues
In preparation for this class, students will read materials handed out to them about the ethical problems facing lawyers who attempt to provide less than full legal services to a client.

Tues. 2/29
Pro bono representation: challenges and approaches
Cindy Walker, Legal Action of Wisconsin
Director, Volunteer Lawyers' Project

Tues. 3/7
Project Updates

SPRING BREAK

Tues. 3/21
Models for providing services: high volume jurisdiction
Ernesto Romero, Milwaukee County

Tues. 3/28
Models for providing services: low volume jurisdiction
Henk Newenhouse, Richland County

Tues. 4/4
Special problems for incarcerated persons

Tues. 4/11
Finding funding: grant proposals
Louise Trubek, Director
Center for Public Representation

Tues. 4/18
Simplifying legal procedures in simple cases
Christopher Walther, Chairperson
Wisconsin State Bar, Family Law Section

Tues. 4/15
Project presentations

Tues. 5/2
Project presentations