The Washington herald., 1914-06-07
Legal Aid Society Puts
Justice in Reach of All
George Washington University Law School Organiza
tion Gipes Legal Aid to Unfortunates Who Are in
Distress and Are Unable to Employ Paid Law
yers in Obtaining Justice.

the executive committee OF the society
selects those students considered most
capable, and recommends their ADMIT.
tance to membership. Members are voted
on by the society and are admitted into
active membership thefollowing autumn.
The society is under the control OF an
executive committee. composed OF the Of
ficers Of the society. a graduate of the
law school, and a member of the faculty.
The present members are as follows:
James F. Pierce, chairman; James c.
Rogers, secretary-treasurer; Prof. e.
Fraser, faculty member. and David A.
Baer, graduate member. Omcers OF the
society are elected from members who
are second-year students in the law
school. They hold office until the spring
of their third year.
In rotation the active members are as
signed a night for duty at the Offices Of
the society. The embryo lawyer receives
clients listens to their stories. decides
whether the case is deserving one, ana
renders whatever advice may be neces-
sary If the case is a worthy one and
requires further action. the student who
first receives the client assumes full
charge of the matter, and carries the
case through to a conclusion. Detailed
reports are made concerning each case,
and are filed away for future reference,
together with whatever correspondence
may have collected. Litigation is avoided
whenever possible. Cases. however,
which demand being carried into the
courts are handled by associate members
! of the society-recent graduates of the
law school actively engaged in the prac-
tice of law. There are twelve such asso-
ciate members at the present time, all of
free of charge.
Two fundamental laws govern the con-
duct of the society's work: First the case
must be unquestionably meritorious; and,
second, the client must be without funds
sufficient for the employing Of an attor-
ney. No definite rules have been adopted
by the local society to guide the applica-
ton of the second law. The Legal Aid
Society in Cleveland reports that the
average poor man applying for assistance
at its Offices is an individual earning
about sl1 a week. and having from three
to eight children.
The most common types Of cases COM
ing before the society are those dealing
with wage claims, domestic troubles, col
lections. contracts. loans, and landlord
and tenant disputes In collection cases
the society reserves the right to retain
10 per cent Of the amount involved. This
provision, however, Is optional. and its
enforcement resides wholly within the
discretion of the executive committee Of
the society.
At present the society Is making q spe-
cialty of loan shark cases. using its ef-
forts to bring about the punishment Of
usurers charging outrageous interest
rates, and to give protection to the un-
| fortunates who fall victims to the un-
lawful activities of the money lender.
The society has been besieged with
cases Of domestic trouble, but is always
| very reluctant to handle any of them
They are cases of nonsupport, and deser-
tion. and maltreatment, and infidelity.
Only in rare cases does the society con-
sent to assume charge Of divorce pro-
ceedings. Litigation always, IL possible,
is avoided in domestic cases, efforts being
made to readjust home conditions with
out the interference of the courts.
The poor and the unfortunate Of the
city slowly are becoming acquainted with
the services offered by the society. and
the number Of clients steadily is increas-
ing. Information concerning the organ
ization is being disseminated through the
mediums Of the press, charitable socie-
ties, court officers, Judges, and lawyers.
When all of Washington's Poor have
become acquainted with the Legal Aid
Society and its services, 1t may finally be
said with truth and effectiveness tina:
Justice is free for ALL"