Evening star., 1932-11-20
LEGAL AID BUREAU
HANDLES 60 CASES
Organization Helping Desti-
tute in Court Action Ends
Month of Existence.

With about so cases already handled
IN its brief existence, Wasf1ingtons Le-
gal, Aid Bureau has Just completed its
first month of operation. A volunteer
staff of dozen attorneys, six men and
six women, aided by volunteer clerical
assistance and law school students, is
handling the work in quarters provided
by the Council of Social Agencies, with
which the bureau co-operates. at 14l8
] street northwest. Each lawyer gives
time weekly to hours maintained every
afternoon from to 4 O'Clock, except
Saturday, when they are from 10 am.
until noon, following up the cases un-
dertaken from his own office.
When Washington's Legal Aid Bu-
reau was founded last month the total
of the chain of these unique social
agencies throughout the country
reached about 60 Chief Justice Charles
Evans Hughes is honorary president of
the National Association of Legal Aid
Organizations, which is helping the
bureau here organize its work. Miss
Beatrice A. Clephane, attorney, Is di
rector Of the bureau and Louis Often
berg is chairman of the Advisory Com
mittee of lawyers and social workers.
AS yet the bureau operates without
cudget, but its pioneer workers have
begun a record of achievement.
Not in Legal Competition.
The bureau is not in competition
with the legal profession" Miss Clephane
explained yesterday, but seeks only to
hclp worthy persons who otherwise
would be without the legal help their
cases warrant. In other words, it han
Giles only meritorious civil cases for
destitute clients AS general rule the
bureau accepts no personal injury, di-
voree or bankruptcy cases. In divorce
actions, when the husband is employed,
the court will allow an attorneys fee.
In personal injury cases the lawyer can
obtain his contingent fee when there is
q recovery. Therefore such cases are
referred to regular practitioners Simi
larly defenses in criminal cases, which
also the bureau does not handle, are
referred to attorneys on a list prepared
by the bar associations.
There are, however, many types of
cases which fall within the scope of
the bureau. In the first month of op-
Grafton the majority involved wage col
lections, debts, landlord and tenant,
non-support, installment house con-
tracts and workmen's compensation. In
less than one-tenth OF these cases was
court action necessary. In the others
amicable adjustments were made"
Typical Cases Outlined.
Following are outlines of typical cases |
IN the first months docket of the bu-
reau:
Woman of good Washington family, |
destitute, sued for $4,000 for alleged |
libel. Had good legal defense but could |
not retain counsel. Did not want to |
mortgage future by having judgment |
against her. Member of Legal Aid Staff |
Is handling case.
Woman employed by beauty parlor,
husband out of work, and threatened |
with arrest for blackmail when she
tried to collect wages. Bureau making |
this collection for her.
Furniture store, delivering number of |
articles under installment contract,
seized all when payment on one article |
was delinquent, the others being COM
pletely paid for. Return of articles |
paid for brought about by bureau.
Students Aid Work.
"One of the most interesting devel-
opmeTlts OF the first month";" said Miss |
Clephane. has been the enthusiasm |
and effectiveness with which students |
from various law schools of the Dis /
trtct OF Columbia have assisted in in
veStigatory work. One of these was
successful in locating the father of |
seven destitute children, stranded with |
their mother in North Carolina. An
other brought to amicable agreement a
dispute over property right of way"
Some legal aid bureaus operate as
legal aid clinics. Dean Fox of Catholic
University Law School, a member of |
the Advisory Committee, IS working out
plan for regular use Of students here.
Dean Van Week of George Washington
University Law School is cooperating |
along the same lines.