MILWAUKEE, WI – October 30, 2007 The Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA) Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) received the American Bar Association’s 2007 Cindy A. Raisch Award. The MBA was recognized for excellence in the enhancement of public service oriented lawyer referral and information programs that provide access for moderate income consumers. MBA Executive Director, James Temmer, LRIS Director, Britt Bellinger and LRIS Associate Director, Andrew Clinnin accepted the award October 17 during the 2007 Lawyer Referral Workshop in New Orleans, LA.

The awards committee was impressed with the MBA’s commitment to increasing access to justice. Several highlighted initiatives include: the formation of a Modest Means panel consisting of private attorneys that practice all areas of law and are willing to work for extremely reduced rates, a Lawyer Hotline-monthly hotline created where people can get basic legal questions answered over the phone by volunteer attorneys free of charge and the Teenage Alcohol Prevention Program, revived after a 10 year hiatus where an attorney and police officer do an interactive presentation for high school students outlining the procedures and legal consequences of house parties, drinking and driving , drugs, and bringing weapons to school.

Hon. Michael J. Skwierawski, retired Chief Judge of Milwaukee County, stated, “All of these improvements strengthen a major part of the mission of this bar association and a commitment we hope to foster in every lawyer practicing in this community, access to justice.” Annie Janisch, Social Worker at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, speaks highly of the MBA LRIS, “They have been an outstanding resource for the clients I refer, most of who are very low income.”

The MBA LRIS is the only service of its kind in Wisconsin that meets ABA standards. Public service oriented programs, such as the LRIS, provide an invaluable service to the consumer seeking an avenue of entry to the legal system that is based on the consumer's actual legal needs, and offer information on non-legal sources to help if those would be more appropriate to the problem.

The MBA LRIS

The Milwaukee Bar Association’s LRIS has been in operation for over 60 years and is a nonprofit public service of the MBA. It receives over 20,000 calls annually and refers over 8,000 calls to attorneys and community agencies. The LRIS is a FREE over the phone referral service for anyone that has a legal question or is seeking to obtain legal counsel. LRIS can be reached at 414-274-6768.

About the Milwaukee Bar Association

Established in 1858, the Milwaukee Bar Association is the 5th oldest bar association in the nation. The MBA aids in the administration of justice, promotes high standards of learning and professional conduct, provides opportunities for law-related community service and fosters collegiality within the legal community. For more information, on the MBA and our public service programs please visit www.milwbar.org