Technically Legal - A Legal Technology and Innovation Podcast

Affordable Legal Help: How a Non-Profit Law Firm is Answering the Call (Kamron Graham, Executive Director, The Commons Law Center)

May 9, 2024

Kamron Graham, Executive Director of the Commons Law Center, shares her inspiring journey from finance to championing affordable legal aid. She highlights the alarming statistic that 75% of civil litigants lack representation, particularly in family law and housing cases. The Center uses sliding scale fees and innovative outreach to bridge the justice gap for those who earn too much for legal aid but too little for private services. Kamron discusses the challenges and innovations in non-profit legal services, including the transformative role of technology in enhancing accessibility.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

From Finance to Justice

02:15 • 7min

Bridging the Justice Gap

09:32 • 7min

Navigating Client Acquisition in Nonprofit Legal Services

16:57 • 3min

Navigating Legal Services: Challenges and Innovations

19:59 • 5min

Innovating Legal Aid: Tech Meets Non-Profit Law

25:21 • 7min

Studies determined that at least one litigant does not have a lawyer in 75% of civil cases in the United States. The number is even higher when it comes to family law, domestic violence, housing, and small claims matters.

But organizations like Oregon’s Commons Law Center are doing something about it. On this episode, Kamron Graham, the Law Center’s Executive Director, talks about the not for profit law firm’s efforts to provide affordable legal assistance to people that make too much to qualify for legal aid, but don’t make enough to hire a lawyer.

The Commons Law Center helps out people facing evictions, have family law issues or need help with wills and estate planning.

Kamron initially planned to pursue a career in finance but pretty quickly figured out that her empathy and concern for others probably might not jibe with a Wall Street career. After returning to Oregon after college in the Northeast, Kamron started her career working in group homes, homeless shelters and served a stint with the United Way.

These experiences made clear to her that a professional degree might help her have a greater impact on people's lives and give her even more of an opportunity to use her education to help others. So, in her 30s she decided to go to law school.

After law school continued her career helping the underserved, including work for Legal Aid Services of Oregon and work as a public defender.

Eventually she landed at the Commons Law Center, starting as a tenant defense attorney and ascending to the role of executive director.

The business model of the Commons Law Center is not free legal work, but charging a sliding scale fee based on a client's income. Currently 70% of the firm's budget comes from fees. The firm is working to become 100% self-sufficient, but in the meantime to fill the gap, the firm leverages tech to streamline their processes and keep costs down. It also relies on donors, foundations, and grants.

** Thanks to former Technically Legal Guest John Grant for making this episode happen and connecting us to Kamron.

Learn more about Kamron.