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Bar News - July 27, 2001 Broderick Honored for Legal Services Board Tenure By: Dan Wise NH’s ‘community of justice’ gathers JUSTICE JOHN T. BRODERICK, Jr. said that having the national Legal Services Corporation (LSC) board of directors – on which he has served for a record eight years – meet in his home state was like "having good friends come home to meet your family." The LSC board met for the first time in New Hampshire on June 22-23 in Portsmouth, and it was likely the last meeting Broderick will attend. Since the board is made up of presidential appointments, it is expected that the current board, nearly all of whom were appointed in 1992 by then-President Clinton, will be replaced this fall by appointees named by President Bush. "This is a bittersweet time," Broderick said at a reception held for LSC board members and individuals active in supporting legal services efforts in New Hampshire. "Our time (as LSC board members) is dwindling down. I was so happy and proud to bring this board to my state and let them hear your stories." At a committee meeting earlier that day, LSC officials heard a presentation by representatives of the major legal services providers in New Hampshire, who have worked together to coordinate the resources devoted to serving the civil legal needs of the poor. Those entities include the state’s only recipient of federal funds through LSC, Legal Advice & Referral Center (LARC), as well as NH Legal Assistance and the Bar’s Pro Bono Referral Program. Earlier this year, an LSC report recognized New Hampshire’s collaboration as an exemplary effort in statewide legal services planning. John McKay, the outgoing president of the LSC, praised New Hampshire for being a role model for the nation. "New Hampshire has created a ‘community of justice.’ We are thankful for the model of cooperation New Hampshire has provided to all of us." McKay and Broderick also extended their thanks to Chief Justice David Brock and other members of the Supreme Court for supporting legal services for the poor and for allowing Broderick to continue serving on the LSC board following his appointment to the high court in 1995. "When I was appointed to the court, I asked [Chief Justice Brock] if I could continue on the board, and he said, ‘Why not? That is important work.’ Later, when he served as chair of the Conference of Chief Justices, he came and spoke at the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the LSC. I am proud he’s my chief," said Broderick. Marilyn McNamara, an Amherst attorney and chair of the Pro Bono Referral System Governing Board, also spoke. Recently named executive director of LARC, McNamara brings extensive experience as a volunteer Pro Bono attorney to her work with LARC, a legal services agency that principally provides advice and information over the telephone to indigent clients regarding civil matters. Robert Hirshon, the incoming president of the ABA, also attended part of the LSC meeting. One of Hirshon’s priorities during his tenure as ABA president – which begins next month – is developing means to address the "public service gap" created, in part, by the crushing law-school tuition debts many new lawyers must carry. Hirshon is advocating a loan-forgiveness program, along the lines of the medical profession’s National Service Corps, which allows the interest on loans to be waived while that professional works in an underserved area. (The New Hampshire Bar Foundation already has a loan-forgiveness program underway that helps subsidize the loan payments of new lawyers working for NH legal services agencies.) The LSC meeting attracted coverage from major New Hampshire news outlets, including WMUR-TV, the Union Leader, the Portsmouth Herald and feature segments on NH Public Television’s "Outlook" program and NH Public Radio’s "The Exchange."
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