Washington, DC -- On November 5, 1999, HALT - An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform, the nation's largest consumer legal reform group, is convening a free one-day conference: California Legal Reform Challenges: Increasing Accessibility and Accountability in the Civil Justice System, at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California.

"Today, California's civil justice system faces a dual crisis - ordinary citizens simply can't afford to use it, and with a backlog of over 7,000 complaints, consumers who have been victimized by unethical lawyers continue to be victimized by a failed attorney discipline system," stated HALT Executive Director James C. Turner.

"HALT is convening this conference to mobilize a new advocacy coalition to fight for reforms that will both increase accessibility and strengthen accountability in California and nationwide," Turner continued. "California's unique role as a national trendsetter also makes San Francisco an ideal location for developing reform proposals that can serve as models for the rest of the nation."

Political commentator, radio host and author Jim Hightower, will give the conference keynote address. In addition, the conference will feature:

• Professor Richard Abel, UCLA School of Law
• Marilyn Arons, Parent Information Center
• Dean Katherine S. Broderick, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
• Louis A. Clark, Executive Director, Government Accountability Project
• The Honorable Roderic Duncan, Retired Judge, California Superior Court
• Catherine Elias-Jermany, Executive Director, National Self-Help Law Project
• Steve Elias, Associate Publisher, Nolo Press
• Chief Trial Counsel Judy Johnson, State Bar of California
• Assemblyman Ted Lempert, Palo Alto, California
• Professor Thomas Mack, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
• Conrad Martin, Executive Director, Fund for Constitutional Government
• Virginia Simons, President, California Association of Independent Paralegals
• Jeanne Stott, Small Claims Advisor, California Superior Court, and
• Jake Warner, Cofounder, Nolo Press.

Each year, thirty-eight million households nationwide need legal help, but are denied access to the American civil justice system simply because they cannot afford to hire a lawyer. In California, an estimated two million legal problems go unaddressed each year. In addition, unauthorized practice of law committees continue to threaten independent paralegals and other nonlawyers working to increase accessibility by providing low cost alternatives to hiring a lawyer. What can the California legal reform community do to help those who are denied access each year?

Americans file 100,000 formal disciplinary complaints each year against their lawyers, yet only a small number of lawyers receive any discipline. In 1997, the state bar of California fielded almost 140,000 calls on its disciplinary toll-free line. Last year, the bar shutdown caused a stall in any disciplinary action and created a huge backlog of complaints, which continues to grow. How can lawyer accountability be improved in California?

These two issues-accessibility and accountability-are the focus of this conference. The conference will also include a presentation on innovative uses of the Internet to provide legal assistance for do-it-yourselfers. Leading reform advocates and scholars will help focus our thinking as we forge an action agenda for increasing accessibility and accountability in the California civil justice system.

Founded in 1978, HALT pursues a nationwide education and advocacy program that challenges the legal establishment to improve access and to reduce costs in the civil justice system. HALT is known for its extensive collection of self-help law books currently including over 15 titles and its commitment to holding the legal profession accountable.