• Updated Information on all the Foundation’s Legal Help Websites
  

  The Foundation hosts and maintains 4 legal help websites (3 partnering with the court and 1 coordinating with Arizona's 3 legal aid entities and the State Bar of Arizona): https://azcourthelp.org, https://lawforseniors.org, https://lawforveterans.org, and https://azlawhelp.org

  • Each website has been updated with a COVID-19 information page which links to information about Arizona court operations, how to apply for legal help, updates on legal aid services, and other pertinent information.
  • On AZLawHelp.org, LawForSeniors.org, and LawForVeterans.org the Foundation is:
    • Coordinating efforts with AZ's legal aid programs to answer questions submitted through each site's Q&A feature;
    • Exploring options to implement a live chat feature staffed by legal aid and volunteer attorneys in coordination with the State Bar of Arizona; and, 
    • Working with the State Bar of Arizona and its Sections/Committees in creating a rapid response team to assist with evaluating and updating content on the crisis pages as executive and administrative orders and legislation is announced
  • On AZCourtHelp.org:
    • On AZCourtHelp.org, which already has a live chat feature staffed by law librarians, Foundation staff have purchased an additional chat license to allow additional law librarians to participate
    • Hosting training sessions with newly recruited law librarians

The Arizona Bar Foundation is working hard to support Arizona’s legal aid programs during the COVID-19 crisis.

Enhancing Technology to Support Remote Services: The Foundation is working closely and is in frequent communication with Arizona’s legal aid organizations regarding the continuation of legal assistance to those in need. At present, all LSC-funded legal aid program offices are closed to the ‘walk-in’ public. All intakes are conducted through the Foundation-hosted online interview or via phone intake with legal aid programs directly. All client meetings, where possible, have been moved to telephone conversations. To help legal aid programs meet the needs of those they serve, the Foundation is exploring or implementing various forms of technology:

• The live chat feature for all law help websites
• Directing requests for legal help to the online intake program
• Secure video conferencing for client/attorney meetings
• Increasing the Foundation’s licenses for online webinar and meeting platforms to host online clinics and information sessions.

Focused Legal Information Team: Foundation staff are working with the Arizona’s legal aid programs to quickly evaluate legislative, administrative, or executive changes related to COVID-19, translate those changes into plain-language, and share the information with all legal aid programs, community partners, and updates to the Foundation’s law help websites.

COVID-19 has greatly impacted Arizona’s schools, teachers, and education community. In the last several weeks, the Arizona Bar Foundation has had to cancel several state-level civic and law related education competitions and notify schools of national competition cancellations. The Foundation is working with educators and community partners on several fronts:

• The Foundation is exploring opportunities to recognize student, classroom, and school participation, effort, and accomplishments in regional, statewide and national competitions.
• The Foundation is regularly posting and updating civic and law related education activities for kids and families on the Foundation’s homepage, AZBF.org, and LawForKids.org. These activities keep students engaged in ongoing activities like Law Day, learning with i-civics, and Kids Voting games and lessons.
• The Foundation is in frequent communication with Arizona teachers and school resource officers to evaluate needs and help.

1. Send Congratulations to Regional Mock Trial & State We the People Winning Schools

Mock Trial Regional Winners who would have advanced to State Finals:

Arizona School for the Arts Team 1, Phoenix, teacher- Richard Livoni, [email protected]

BASIS Ahwatukee Team 1, Ahwatukee, teacher- Dyson Ellis, [email protected]

BASIS Oro Valley Teams 1 and 3, Oro Valley,  teacher – Marguerite Ellis, [email protected]

Brophy College Preparatory Team 2, Phoenix, teacher- Monica Castaneda, [email protected]

Desert Vista High School, Tempe, teacher- Eric Sorenson, [email protected]

Lake Havasu High School, Lake Havasu, teacher-Angela James, [email protected]

Prescott High School Teams 1 and 2, Prescott, teacher- Brenda Lee, [email protected]

South Mountain High School, Phoenix, teacher- Matt Smith, [email protected]

Tanque Verde High School Teams 1 and 2, Tucson, teacher- Jeremy Samoy, [email protected]

University High School Team, Tucson, teacher- Alex McCane, [email protected]

Veritas Preparatory Academy Team, Tucson, teacher- Bill Gates,  [email protected]

Xavier College Preparatory Team, Phoenix, teacher- Dani Richter, [email protected]

We the People 1^st and 2^nd State Winners who had advanced to National Finals:

1^st place, Mesa Mountain View High School (they will be participating in the Virtual National finals), Mesa, Teacher- Nancie Lindblom, [email protected]

2^nd place, Corona del Sol High School (they are not able to participate in the Virtual National finals), Tempe, Teacher – Alison Rund, [email protected]

lawforkids.org/pc-portfolios - Voting is now LIVE! Students in grades 5^th-12^th worked hard on researching issues in their community and developing alternative public policy. Classes submitted their portfolios before the schools closed and the students want your feedback on their proposed solutions and work. By voting for your favorite, the class with the most popular portfolio will receive $250. Please join in the voting!

3. Judge Project Citizen Portfolios
Register to be an official judge of the Project Citizen portfolios at lawforkids.org/portfolio-judge

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment. Arizona K-12 students have an opportunity to learn about this important amendment AND win an Ipad! This is a fun activity that can be completed from home. Parents can print the worksheet, give to their child to complete, take a picture of it and upload on https://LawforKids.org . All entries will be posted for popular vote. Please encourage youth to learn about this amendment by visiting- lawforkids.org/law-day-contest. Deadline to submit is April 10, 2020.

Law Help Websites: As mentioned above, the Foundation’s law help websites offer an opportunity for the public to ask general legal questions. No legal advice is provided in the answers and the responding attorney’s answer is provided anonymously and posted on the law help website. It’s easy to get started and volunteers can answer general questions from home! To sign up – send an email to [email protected] and let us know which area of law you’d like to answer questions.  

ABA’s Free Legal Answers: The Arizona Bar Foundation and the State Bar of Arizona partners with the American Bar association to facilitate Arizona’s Free Legal Answers service. Free Legal Answers allows low income Arizonans to submit 3 questions into the website to be selected and answered directly by registered attorneys. Legal advice may be provided and the Arizona Bar Foundation malpractice insurance for your pro bono service. To learn more and sign up visit: https://az.freelegalanswers.org/

 Arizonans still have until April 15^th to give qualifying Charitable Tax credit agencies. You can make a donation at our CHARITABLE TAX CREDIT page.

This order will assist in stabilizing Arizonans and helping the economy recover more rapidly. You can send a note of thanks through the Governor’s website contact page.

Arizona Attorney General Bronivich has been urging banks to work with Arizonans impacted by COVID-19. You can send a note of thanks through the Attorney General’s office contact page.