May 2, 2002

Letters to the Editor
Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St.,
P.O. Box 15779
Sacramento, CA 95852

VIA FACSIMILE

Dear Editor:

Consumers of legal services are too often woefully unprotected. For example, a Consumer Reports survey of readers who'd hired lawyers concluded that: "Of all the services we've surveyed over the years, only diet programs received a worse score."

The California legislature is considering a plan to improve the situation. The Legal Consumers Protection Act, a bipartisan bill (AB 2939 - author Anthony Pescetti and co-author Lou Papan), would require lawyers to provide potential clients better description of fees, costs, and work expected to be done, similar to the protections consumers now have when seeking to sell their homes or hire a mechanic.

Most importantly, these protections will come into play before the consumer signs a contract with an attorney - when people need protection the most.

As Consumer Reports advises people about to hire an attorney: "The best way to avoid problems: Start by taking charge." The Legal Consumers Protection Act will give consumers the ability to do just that.

Sincerely,

John H. Sullivan
President