The Los Angeles Incubator Consortium (LAIC) was established as a pilot program in January 2015 through a grant from the State Bar of California's Commission on Access to Justice. California-licensed attorney participants are selected to join the program for one year to receive the basic training needed to get their solo legal practices up and running, and at the same time develop relationships that allow them to serve the local community's legal needs. Pro bono hours and training is provided by consortium members Bet Tzedek, Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, Community Legal Aid of SoCal, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County and Public Counsel.

 

LAIC works closely with their incubator participants (“new solos”) for a period of 12 months.  During this time, they are receiving mentoring and training on substantive areas of law and ethical law practice management. A requirement for program participation is contribution of 100 hours of pro bono work (including the training required to prepare them for such work). This work is performed through a variety of opportunities developed by the legal services community partners.  Program participants receive mentoring, including access to a group of lawyers and retired judges who are working with the new solos to provide feedback about strategy.  Legal services organizations provide substantive legal training in the areas where new solos will be doing pro bono. Each new solo is gaining legal experience while performing pro bono while also developing relationships that may lead to building their practices.

 

By working together, members of LAIC are learning from each other and in the future, plan to expand the program in a countywide effort that reaches other underserved pockets of Los Angeles County. Our geographic area and need is so great that it will take all of us working together with the new solos as we develop models that work for law graduates, legal aid organizations, and the client community.