Eliza Q. Perez-Ollin, Wayne Law class of 2014, played a significant role in researching and drafting new limited scope rules passed Sept. 20 by the Michigan Supreme Court.

The new rules, which go into effect in January, make it easier for Michigan attorneys to provide limited scope services, therefore legal services will be more affordable for self-represented litigants who wouldn't otherwise be able to pay for an attorney.

Perez-Ollin, project director for the Detroit Equity Action Lab at Wayne Law's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, got her start drafting the rules in 2013 in Justice Marilyn Kelly's Access to Justice Seminar at Wayne Law. After graduating from law school, she held positions and served on committees that allowed her to continue her impactful work. For the past year, she's remained intimately involved with the issue in a volunteer capacity.

"I worked on researching and drafting these rules extensively for several years - first as a student in Justice Kelly's Access to Justice Seminar, as well as a directed study, and then continuing my research and advocacy post-grad working for Linda Rexer at the Michigan State Bar Foundation," said Perez-Ollin. "After analyzing the existing rules and additional infrastructural supports in the many other states that utilize the limited scope model, I had the opportunity to help draft Michigan's proposed rules while serving on the State Bar of Michigan's 21st Century Taskforce Access and Affordability committee in 2015, as well as on the Limited Scope Representation Work Group established by then State Bar President Lori Buiteweg in 2016."

Perez-Ollin, now considered a national expert in limited scope rules, presented on the topic last year at the National Legal Aid and Defender Association conference in Indianapolis. She considers the opportunities she had at Wayne Law instrumental in helping her lay the groundwork for this project.

For Perez-Ollin, becoming project director for the Detroit Equity Action Lab tied in well with her work on the limited scope rules. Since its establishment in 2014 when Wayne State received a three-year, $1.3 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the lab has brought together leaders from 75 organizations working in the many dimensions of racial equity to address issues of structural racism in Detroit. "The work we do at the Equity Lab has the same purpose as our work on the new rules," said Perez-Ollin. "We are working to create infrastructural policy and cultural change that will lead to equity and access for all."

Jayesh Patel of Birmingham, executive director and managing attorney for Street Democracy, was a member of the lab's first "cohort" of leaders in 2014 and is looking forward to the way the new rules will allow Street Democracy to assist its clients.

"The new court rules will increase our capacity to help more people and make it easier for us to partner with attorneys in private practice," said Patel. "Equally important, the new rules potentially lower the financial barrier to quality legal representation for low-to moderate-income folks who do not qualify for pro bono services but cannot afford full representation."

Photo:

Eliza Q. Perez-Ollin