1973, April, Pg. 25. Half-Time Report.

• Author: by Lawrence M. Wood

2 Colo.Law. 25

The Colorado Lawyer

1973.

1973, April, Pg. 25.

Half-Time Report

25Vol. 2, No. 6, Pg. 25Half-Time Reportby Lawrence M. WoodThis statement is not intended to give the score at the end of the first half of this administrative year, nor to give a pep talk to stimulate more vigorous efforts in the second half. Certainly there could be no complaint about the quality of work being performed by so many people.

Rather it seems to me that some reflection on the nature of the problems which confront the organized Bar may give perspective to the programs now under way.

It is quite obvious that in recent years the society in which we live and work has undergone many basic and far-reaching changes, and that the functioning of the legal system has been seriously affected as a result.

Loss of Respect for AuthorityThe protest movement, which began as a means of eliminating social injustice, became an attack on virtually all of the institutions necessary to a functional society. In some conspicuous cases, attempts were made to discredit the entire machinery for the administration of justice. During this era, with the war as a strong contributing factor, all forms of legitimate authority were called into question.

Overburdened CourtsDuring this uproar, the caseload of the judicial system has steadily increased. Major causes are the crime wave and the use of the lawsuit as an instrument of social reform. Other causes are the increasing claim consciousness of the American public and the general complexity of our contemporary life.

Simultaneously, public impatience with judicial processes has become abundantly clear. Two big straws in the wind were the revolt against probate procedures and the strong demand for no-fault insurance.

ConsumerismClosely related to the other developments which reflect dissatisfaction with old institutions and procedures is the rise of consumerism. Ralph Nader and many others have focused attention on high cost and poor workmanship, and the general public now demands better value for its money. Legal services are no exception.

Moreover, there is a rising expectation on the part of people in all economic levels to share in the work product of the system. Not only the well-to-do, but the poor and persons of moderate means also, desire legal services. This has led to the next big development which affects us.

Group and Prepaid Legal ServicesThe rapid growth of these plans offers both a potential solution to unavailability of legal services and a major new problem for the public and the profession.

26A series of decisions by the United States Supreme Court made it possible for unions and other groups to establish programs whereby the legal needs of their members would be served by one or more lawyers employed by the group.

Lay-controlled organizations have jumped at this opportunity, and several thousand such plans are now estimated to be in operation. It takes little imagination to see that this new delivery system threatens a major breach in the traditional form of law practice and the possibility of significant disregard for proper ethical standards.

In summary then, our major concerns are these:

---A serious loss of confidence in the administration of justice. Many consider this to be truly alarming in extent.

---A legal system which is not capable of providing prompt, effective, and economical legal services to all who need them.

---A threat by lay-controlled groups to take over the system and run it themselves.

Our ProgramsTo meet these problems, we have set general goals and devised specific programs to achieve them.1. Further Improvement in the Judicial System, and Development of Other Means to Resolve Disputes.

The...