Thank you for agreeing to take this important survey. The Louisiana State Bar Association and a Committee of the Access to Justice Commission are currently exploring the implementation of a Modest Means Program to make legal services available to lower income individuals who are ineligible for legal aid but unable to afford regular attorney fees. Attorneys may be needed to serve on Modest Means Panels to offer services at reduced rates. Your answers will assist us in further researching how to address the legal needs of modest means clients. Please respond to the following inquiries as completely and accurately as possible. Thank you for participating.

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* 1. Are you a solo or small firm practitioner?

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* 2. How many years of practice experience do you have?

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* 3. Are you currently a member of a lawyer referral service?

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* 4. Have you provided direct legal assistance without expectation of fee to low
income clients within the past year (pro bono services)?

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* 5. In which areas of law do you practice?

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* 6. Louisiana has the third highest rate of poverty in the country at approximately 20%. Some low-income citizens who meet the income guidelines shown below are eligible to receive free legal representation by Louisiana’s Legal Services Programs. 
 
Persons in
Family/Household 		  Poverty Guidelines
 1  $14,850
 2  $20,025
 3  $25,200
 4  $30,375

However, many people over those guidelines cannot afford to hire an attorney at traditional market rates.

This creates a gap between those who can access free legal services and those who can pay traditional market price. To determine whether assistance can be provided to individuals in this gap, the LSBA is attempting to identify characteristics of “Modest Means” clients and the interest of private practitioners to provide services.

Knowing this information, please state the income levels of persons you believe would qualify to be of "modest means."

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* 7. Based on the answers you provided in above question, what is the average hourly rate you would charge someone within this income range?

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* 8. Some attorneys provide a sliding scale fee schedule for clients based on income. Based on your answer to question 6, what do you think is a feasible per hour rate one could charge a modest means client at the following income levels:

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* 9. Some attorneys offer flat fee rates. A flat fee rate refers to a pricing structure that charges a single fixed fee, rather than billing by the hour, for services provided.

In your practice, are there any services you currently provide for a flat fee?

If so - please list:
1) The services AND
2) The flat fee rates you charge

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* 10. Are you currently providing services for modest means clients?

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* 11. If you answered yes to the above question, please answer the following.

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* 12. If a statewide modest means online directory existed, would you be interested in being a part of it?

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* 13. If you selected "need more information" in the above question, what kind of information would you need before making a decision to join a modest means referral system?

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* 14. Please provide your name and contact information (address, email, and phone number) if you would like to participate in the online legal directory for modest means clients. 

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* 15. In what parish is your office located? 

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