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2. legal issues
3. legislation
4. family laws

The Modest Means Program (MMP) is a reducedfee attorney panel designed to make legal services accessible to lower and moderate income
people who have too much income to be eligible
for Vermont Legal Aid, but still not enough to
afford full attorney’s fees. Clients are eligible for
the Modest Means Program if their income is at
or below 250% of the federal poverty level—
under $49,600 for a family of 4.
We have partnered with Vermont Legal Aid on
this project. Possible clients enter financial information into VLA’s on-line MMP intake system. If
they meet the criteria for the Modest Means Panel, they will be redirected to the VBA’s on-line
intake system. When you receive a referral
through the Modest Means Program, this client
meets the criteria for a reduced fee.
Clients will be charged not more than $25 for the first
thirty minutes of their initial consultation with you.
After that, you will charge not more than $75.00 per
hour.
We ask that you eliminate or reduce your usual retainer, or provide for retainer payment plans.
We ask that you explore with your modest means client options such as unbundled legal services, a flat
rate, or monthly installment payments to better enable them to afford your legal work.
Must be a Vermont licensed attorney in good standing
with the Vermont Supreme Court;
Must be a member of the Vermont Bar Association;
Must maintain professional liability insurance coverage—$100,000 minimum.
Potentially increase business while serving lower
income clients;
Learn new skills and help build your client base;
Receive some pay for legal work clients would
otherwise attempt to do themselves;
Assist the court by reducing the number of pro se
litigants;
Provide public service and help close the access to
justice gap;
Receive clients pre-screened for need;
Membership on the Modest Means Program is
FREE. There is no annual fee, and no assessment
against fees that you collect.
We ask that you refer back to the Modest Mean Program any client with whom you have a conflict of interest.
We ask that you notify VBA Staff if you are unable to
accept referrals for a period of time due to vacation,
leave of absence, heavy caseload or any other reason.
We ask that you respond to Modest Means Program
reporting requests in a timely matter to track the program’s success.
Attorneys work hard to close the gap between
the low-income citizens of Vermont and available legal services. Pro Bono volunteers give
back to their community in so
many different ways. More
volunteers are always needed.
Below are some of the programs/projects (and a brief
description) offered by the
Vermont Bar Association and
our partners. By becoming a
Pro Bono volunteer, you too
can give back to your community.
No act of
kindness,
no matter
how small,
is ever
wasted.
Vermont Volunteer Lawyer
Project
VVLP is a cooperative effort of
the Vermont Bar Association
and Legal Services Law Line of
Vermont. It is a statewide pro bono effort created to link attorneys with low income clients.
Each client is pre-screened for need and legal
issue, and then referred to an attorney in his or
her geographic location for pro bono representation. VVLP reimburses attorneys for out of
pocket expenses, provides mentoring opportunities and covers participating attorneys with
professional liability insurance for their pro bono work
The VBA often partners with VVLP to train attorneys in particular areas of need, such as Environmental Court, kinship guardianship, and military
family law. But volunteer attorneys are needed
in all legal fields, including family, transactional,
tax, housing, immigration, litigation, wills and
estates.
VVLP Executive Director Angele Court is always
looking for attorneys willing to take referrals. To
sign up, or for more information, contact her at
1-800-639-8857, or [email protected].
Our projects include:
Rutland Pilot Project
Addison County Legal Assistance Project
Bennington County Legal Assistance Project
Franklin/Grand Isle Legal Assistance Project
Washington County Legal Assistance Project
Windham County Legal Assistance Project
Windsor/Orange Legal Assistance Project
Court Programs and Needs:
Vermont Judges and Clerks often ask lawyers to volunteer their time and talents in
certain state court matters. Contact your
local court staff to offer your assistance:
Guardian ad litem or attorney for children in
Family Division
County “Low Bono” Projects
The Vermont Bar Association and nine county
bar associations have teamed up to start “low
bono” projects in most of Vermont’s counties.
Funded with grants from the Vermont Bar Foundation, these projects pay lawyers a stipend of
$60 per hour to represent indigent Vermonters.
Cases covered include foreclosure, landlord/
tenant, collections, child support contempt defense and adult involuntary guardianships. Payments are capped at between 3-6 hours per
case. Lawyers receive free MCLE credit training
in the areas of need, and if without professional
liability coverage, are covered under the VBA
policy. Contact Mary Ashcroft at the VBA for
more information.
Presenter at Pro Se Litigant Education
Course in Family Division
Representing children or adults in guardianship proceedings in Probate Division
Assisting at Legal Advice Clinics in Washington, Caledonia and Windsor Counties, and at
the Environmental Court.
Contact Us:
Vermont Bar Association
Mary Ashcroft, Legal Access Coordinator
PO Box 100
Montpelier, VT 05601-0100
(802) 223-2020
[email protected]