The Colloquium was initiated on the evening of February 9, 2001 with a reception and dinner for Colloquium planners, speakers and panelists.

Saturday, February 10th, began with welcoming remarks from Dean Mary Ricketson of the College of Law. Dean Ricketson was a strong and enthusiastic supporter of the Colloquium, assuring the planners that the College would provide all necessary financial resources to ensure the success of the Colloquium. As a result of the Dean’s financial commitment, about 135 participants attended the Colloquium, which had no registration fee, a free lunch and an award of C.L.E. credits.

Jean Dubofsky, a former justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, lead counsel before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving the right of Colorado cities to prohibit discrimination of gays and lesbians and the first woman to be appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court, gave the keynote address. Jean was also a former legal services attorney and a law professor. Her address that encouraged development of models for law schools to take responsibility in teaching, scholarship and service to underrepresented groups, was extremely well-received by the participants who rated her remarks as excellent and thoughtful.

The morning panel then began first with the providers of legal services and their perceptions of the needs of underserved persons in the area of civil legal services, criminal defense, disabled and older persons, and those who receive public benefits. This panel was followed by a second panel that built upon the theme of the Colloquium, building bridges between the law schools and the various underserved communities. The panel discussed the issues of mandatory pro bono for lawyers and law students as a way to bridge the gap between the legal needs of underserved communities and access to justice for those communities.

Afternoon workshops continued the theme of building bridges to further provide access to justice in the areas of law school curricula, how the curriculum of the law schools can be maximized to provide sensitivity, knowledge, skills and training to law students as an integral, institutional and pervasive part of legal education. Other workshops explored the specific issues of access to, and cooperation with, the law enforcement community, the ways law schools can be involved with issues of fair housing, and a final panel revisited the process and issue of building pro bono values in the law school. The facilitators, Judge Dan Taubman of the Colorado Court of Appeals and Dean Ellen Chapnick of Columbia University Law School stressed the responsibility of the law schools in bridging the equal justice gap and the benefits of a mandatory pro bono curriculum for the law schools.

The final plenary and wrap-up focused on development of models for law school relationships and interaction of underserved communities. This workshop was directed by Deborah Howard, Director of the Law School Consortium Project. Ms. Howard discussed the need for a cooperative effort between the law schools and the bar association that encourages and supports alumni of their respective law schools who are willing and able to represent middle income persons for reduced fees. This support can be in many forms, loan adjustment, free access to law libraries, faculty expert resources, training programs, etc. Chris Hardaway, a sole practitioner who specializes in family law cases, especially for low and middle income persons, rounded out the panel.

A final report summarizing the panel discussions was made by Mr. Hardaway and Ms. Howard. While there was some constructive criticism about the lack of a plan of action instead of merely a report back, there was a commitment to move forward on consideration and development of curricular changes, and an energized and renewed discussion and consideration of mandatory pro bono for law students and faculties. In particular, the University of Denver College of Law revived its effort to study and develop a plan for mandatory pro bono for the law student and faculty community of the College of Law. Several D.U. faculty also expressed a desire to pursue ways to incorporate issues of equal justice into their traditional courses.

For further information, contact the local planner listed below:

Howard I. Rosenberg
University of Denver College of Law
7039 East 18th Avenue, Denver, CO 80220
(303) 871-6290
hrosenbe@mail.law.du.edu