2017 Attorney Application

(March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018)

To participate in the Misdemeanor Defense Project attorneys must be members of the Lawyer Referral and Information Service, and must be enrolled in the Criminal Law panel of the LRIS. All LRIS membership requirements apply to participation in the Misdemeanor Defense Project.

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
(LRIS listings are by individual attorney, not law firm/affiliation)
Last Name: / First Name: / MI:
Firm Name: / Website:
Business Address: / Suite:
Business City: / State: / Zip:
Business Phone: / Fax: / Cell:
Email:
Law School: / Year: / Year Admitted to Practice in any state:

New Applicants (Renewals may skip to the signature section)

Please list relevant experience or training in handling misdemeanor cases. You must also attach a current resume:

Signature

I agree to comply with all of the Lawyer Referral and Information Service and Misdemeanor Defense Project Requirements as listed on page 2, and to cooperate with the quality assurance procedures listed on page 3.
Signature of applicant: / Date:
LRIS Application Requirements:
  • I understand that all provisions of LRIS membership are applicable to participating on the Misdemeanor Defense Panel, including the following. (See LRIS Application & Agreement for complete requirements.)
  • Participating attorneys must be members in good standing of the Hennepin County Bar Association or pay a $200 non-member surcharge.
  • Attorneys must provide proof of professional liability insurance of at least $200,000 per claim / $600,000 aggregate, and must maintain coverage throughout the year.
  • Attorneys collect a $30 administrative fee from retained clients for the LRIS.
  • Attorneys agree to take a client’s ability to pay into consideration when establishing fees.

Percentage fees are due LRIS on all cases with total attorney fees of $500 or more.

Misdemeanor Defense Project Requirements:

  • I understand that appointment to the Misdemeanor Defense Project panel is for one year, beginning March 1, 2016, and that it requires a volunteer commitment of approximately eight hours each month.
  • I understand that each year I must reapply for the panel and be appointed by the LRIS Oversight Committee. Past membership on the program does not guarantee reappointment.
  • I understand that consideration for reappointment will take into account diligence in fulfilling the responsibilities listed.
  • I understand that appointment to the Misdemeanor Defense Project panel is subject to membership in LRIS.
  • I understand that Misdemeanor Defense Project members must meet all membership requirements for the Misdemeanor/Gross Misdemeanor sub-panel of the LRIS: a minimum of two years in practice with at least 25 percent of the practice in criminal law, and completion of nine CLE credits in criminal practice topics in the last three years.
  • I agree to attend all scheduling and administrative meetings during my term on the Misdemeanor Defense Project. Scheduling meetings are held on the third Friday of the month in February, May, August and November.
  • I agree to attend all scheduled Misdemeanor Defense Project court dates during the 2016 term. If I am unable to attend, I understand that it is my responsibility to find a replacement from the MDP panel and notify LRIS of the scheduling change.
  • I have read and understand the MDP Panel Quality Assurance Policies. I understand that failure to attend scheduled court dates may result in suspension or dismissal from the panel.
  • I understand that I must complete and return all administrative reports within 15 days after Misdemeanor Defense Project court appearances.

MDP Panel Quality Assurance Policies

The quality assurance policies for all LRIS panel attorneys apply to MDP panel membership also. In addition, the following measures apply:

Some discipline approaches are based upon accrued violations.

  • Missing an assigned MDP date at court will be considered a violation.
  • Failure to notify the MDP coordinator the same day of any missed date will be construed as a separate violation.
  • Panel attorneys with three violations during a 30-day period will forfeit a month of dates on the MDP calendar beginning with the next sign-up quarter.
  • If a panel attorney has five violations during a 90-day period, the attorney will be suspended from the program for the next sign-up quarter.
  • A panel attorney with outstanding/overdue reports at the time of the quarterly sign-up will be barred from signing up for court dates for that quarter.
  • The Legal Services Manager may suspend from the panel for one quarter any attorney who violates the trust as an MDP volunteer attorney in providing services to the court and/or the public. Violations of trust are: questionable ethical behavior in recruiting clients, failure to provide service to all individuals with questions, improper referral of individuals counseled at Misdemeanor Court, a pattern of poor punctuality and failure to introduce self to court personnel, and any other conduct which is unprofessional, reflects negatively on the bar association, or is otherwise incompatible with the mission of the Misdemeanor Defense Project. All suspensions will be reported to the LRIS Oversight Committee Co-Chairs/Discipline Subcommittee who will review the suspension. The subcommittee will impose a suitable discipline, whether lifting the suspension, extending the suspension, removing the attorney from the panel, or other such discipline as the subcommittee sees fit.
  • An attorney’s overall track record with regard to attendance and punctuality, public service in the attorney’s role as an MDP panel member, and client-contact reporting will be taken into consideration in reviewing applications for reappointment to the panel for subsequent years. Panel members with an unacceptable record will not be reappointed.
  • Attorneys removed from the panel for disciplinary reasons may not reapply to the panel for the following year. Following that year, any request for reappointment will be reviewed by the the LOC Co-Chairs/Discipline Subcommittee.

Adopted by LOC 4/2004

Amended 10/15

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