The Consumer Federation of America has adopted a number of HALT's chief legal reform proposals.

In March, 2005, HALT Associate Counsel Suzanne Mishkin was reappointed Chair of the Vulnerable Consumers Subcommittee. As Chair, she successfully urged the Consumer Federation of America to incorporate the following legal reform provisions into its 2005 Policy Resolutions Manual:

• Recommendation of Gift Receipt Restrictions for Judges.

  CFA supports strict limitations on the gifts that federal and state judges may accept. Judicial standards should parallel the standards imposed upon the executive and legislative branches, not to exceed de minimus amounts.

• Proposal to Require Written Professional Fee Agreements.

  Any professional licensed by the state must provide clients with plain language written fee agreements and send itemized monthly statements when fees are incurred.

• Recommendation for the Creation of Free Legal Hotlines for Low-Income Seniors.

  CFA supports the establishment and generous public and private funding of free legal hotlines for low-income seniors, staffed by licensed attorneys and covered by legal malpractice insurance. Senior hotlines should exist nationwide.

• Recommendation for the Implementation of Small Claims Court Advisors.

  CFA supports expanding the availability of legal self-help through small claims court systems. Such expanded access should include small claims advisors. Small claims advisors are individuals other than clerks with an understanding of small claims procedures whose primary duties are to explain those procedures to small claims litigants and guide them through their cases.