After a slow start, the campaign to recruit female and minority lawyers has picked up momentum in the past year.

The Kerry campaign has already enlisted lead lawyers in all 50 states, and those lawyers are recruiting lawyers at the county and precinct levels.

To speed the cases, the California Legislature has created a new state agency to recruit and train lawyers to represent death-row inmates.

It has struggled to recruit and keep top-quality lawyers, who can earn far more in the private sector.

He noted, too, that the military had other ways to recruit lawyers, including radio and television advertising.

A commitment to it helps firms recruit lawyers, many of whom find charity work rewarding, and the work can generate good publicity.

In the last six months the American Bar Association, local bar associations and legal defense groups have started vigorous campaigns to recruit lawyers.

"I see '88 as a very strong year," said Alan Roberts, who recruits senior lawyers.

The bride, 37, recruits lawyers in New York for law firms and other companies.

"I'm confident we'll be able to recruit serious skilled lawyers to represent these people," Mr. Goodman said.