Central District of California - 2012 Pro Se Annual Report
Recognition
Court Honor Roll
The 2012 Honor Roll swelled to 307 volunteers, with the addition of student volunteers and translators, as well as attorneys. The Honor Roll represents the names of volunteers who assist parties in bankruptcy, as submitted by each pro bono organization in the district in the fall of every year. Compared to 2011, this year’s number of volunteers increased by over one hundred. The Honor Roll is published on the Court’s website in the fall to celebrate National Pro Bono Celebration Week. One new organization, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, participated in the Honor Roll in 2012. Public Counsel’s Debtors Assistance Project included volunteers for adversary proceedings. The 2012 list also includes paralegal and student volunteers. (The 2011 list did not distinguish between volunteer occupations.)
Public Counsel’s Lasarow Awards
On June 21, 2012, at the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles, Public Counsel hosted the 2012 William J. Lasarow Awards, recognizing the contributions of bankruptcy pro bono volunteers. The awards were presented to pro bono attorneys from each division in the Central District of California. An added honor was actually having retired Judge William Lasarow at the ceremony.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Self-Represented Parties - The Numbers
- Impact from Assistance by Non-Attorneys
- Debtor ID Program
- Bankruptcy Petition Preparer (BPP) Tracking
- Chapter 7 Success
- Chapter 13 Failure
- Burden on Court Staff
- Fraud and Abuse
- Language Barriers
- Professional Involvement in “Pro Se” Fraud Cases
- New Programs and Services for the Self-Represented
- New Website Launched
- Call Center Implemented
- DVD Created for Self-Represented Parties
- Forms and Instructions
- Assistance from Volunteers and Nonprofit Organizations
- Los Angeles Division
- San Fernando Valley Division
- Santa Ana Division
- Riverside Division
- Northern Division
- Recognition
- Fundraising by Pro Bono Organizations for Non-Court Services
- Run For Justice
- Inaugural Leslie Cohen 5K Run/Walk
- Earle Hagen Memorial Golf Tournament
- Los Angeles Holiday Party
- Santa Ana Holiday Party
- Current Projects “Under Construction”
- Conclusion