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Self-Represented Assistance Technology

Join the webinar on April 24, 2006, to learn about self-help programs using technology for assistance. Topics include types of technology, model programs, and implementation strategies. Presenters: Allison McDermott, Dan Rieken, Katherine Bladow.

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Self-Represented Assistance Technology

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  1. Self-Represented Assistance Technology Selfhelpsupport.org Webinar April 24, 2006 Presenters: Allison McDermott, Dan Rieken, Katherine Bladow

  2. Roadmap • Intro and polls • Types of technology and model programs • Example: Illinois • Example: Montana • Where do you start? • Going forward • Questions/Discussion

  3. Take a Poll • Are your self-help programs currently using technology? • Which of the following types of technology are you using? • Computer terminals, Kiosks, Website(s), Hotline/Phone, Form Preparation, Informational videos, Video conferencing, Internet Chat, Email, Other

  4. Why Technology? • Meet the unmet need • Efficient, on both costs and numbers in need • Improve legal literacy and expectations of just outcomes • Increase productivity and effectiveness of lawyers

  5. Types of Technology • Public-access computer terminals • Websites • Document Assembly/Form Preparation • Telephone/Hotlines • Video (tapes and conferencing) • Kiosks • Internet Chat • Other

  6. Public Access Computers • Provides access to computers for those without other means • Can be coupled with staff or phones to provide additional service • Serves as the access point to other types of technology Model Program: AARP Self-Help Office http://www.aarp.org/states/dc/dc-lce/a2003-05-09-lce_outreach.html

  7. Websites • Cost-efficient means of providing answers to frequently-asked legal questions to the public 24/7 • Provide a variety of helpful resources and referrals • Statewide web portals exist in all states, and many courts now have rich sites as well • Used to deliver/enhance other technology tools as well Model Program: Contra Costa Virtual Self Help Law Center http://www.cc-courthelp.org/

  8. Document Assembly • Can create many documents, from simple letters to court forms and pleadings • Provides efficient way to ensure court filings are properly filled out • E-filing as obvious next step Model Program: Idaho Pro Se Project http://www.idaholegalaid.org/(project to launch in 5/06)

  9. Telephone Help/Hotlines • Many types of service possible: referrals, legal education, intake, legal advice, brief service, • Offer services to broad geographic area, saving caller travel time • Ability to respond to emergencies • Potential technology to allow easy access 24/7 to common legal questions through recorded answers Model Program: Alaska Family Law Self-Help Center http://www.state.ak.us/courts/selfhelp.htm

  10. Video Conferencing • Already used in court cases to save time and money (prisoner transport, attorney appearance) • Offer remote clinics and workshops to multiple locations • Improve effectiveness of clinics and workshops through distant attorney supervision Model Program: California Courts http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/equalaccess/modelsh.htm

  11. Kiosks • Help with court navigation, general legal and referral information, and forms preparation • Evaluations show that most effective and utilized when dedicated staff available to help users • More and more kiosks are evolving into computer terminals with Internet access Model Program: ICAN http://secure.icandocs.org/icanweb/

  12. Internet Chat • Co-browse website to provide immediate navigation assistance to find helpful resources (LiveHelp) • Answer legal questions through chat (LiveJustice) • Tied to telephone provides powerful back-up Model Program: ASKNow Law Librarian Service http://www.247ref.org/portal/access_law3.cfm

  13. Other • Email • www.womenslaw.org email hotline • Interactive assessment tools for diagnosis and triage • Maryland: http://www.peoples-law.org/family/divorce/self%20quiz.htm • Personal web spaces • SRLs log-in to ask questions and log back in later to receive answers

  14. Existing Program Models • Technology integrates into the existing service delivery models for self-help programs… • court-based programs • neighborhood-based programs • mobile office programs • … And allows us to create new models too • telephone/web-based programs • virtual support and chat programs

  15. Self-Help Technology in Illinois Illinois Legal Aid Online, a nonprofit legal technology organization for the Illinois access to justice community, serves as the spine of many technology initiatives in self-help programs in Illinois.

  16. IL Federal Self-Help Desk • On January 5, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago opened the first ever federal court self-help advice desk • Partners include Illinois Legal Aid Online, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and The Chicago Bar Foundation • Legal aid attorney staffs desk each weekday from 9am-2pm • Typical cases include employment discrimination and civil rights cases, but may include any case filed in federal court

  17. IL Federal Self-Help Desk • Desk uses online automated forms and instructions for the documents that pro se litigants may need to file in their cases • In addition, public access computers were made available in the federal courthouse as well • Example: Filing a Civil Case in Federal Court without an Attorney • http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentid=4639

  18. Self-Help Technology in Montana • The large size of eastern Montana, low population density, high poverty rate, and shortage of both private and legal services attorneys (76 private and 1 legal services attorney serving an area the size of NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NJ, and MD combined) means that low-income residents of the region have virtually no access to the civil justice system. • Montana Legal Services Association’s Self-Help Law Project helps people find the legal information and advice they need to make their own legal decisions and, in some cases, represent themselves in court.  • Uses different types of technology in its programs

  19. ICAN E-file

  20. MontanaLawHelp.org and LiveHelp

  21. Video Conferencing How-to Classes • Approximately every three months, the Montana Self-Help Law Project holds classes for qualifying individuals on how to prepare and file your own uncontested divorce and/or parenting plan.  • The classes are, for the most part, presented via video conferencing and are typically held in ten counties across the state.

  22. HotDocs Download forms to… … fill out and print online

  23. Tying It All Together http://www.mtselfhelplaw.org/

  24. Where do you start? • Assess needs and capacity • Leadership and collaboration • Leverage existing resources, local and national • Plan stages • Funding

  25. Going forward • Evaluate! March 2005 California evaluation report has two main points about technology: • can overcome geographic, transportation and funding barriers, and • in-person support is key to success. • Must create and maintain quality content • Continue experiment and testing of multimedia content • Expand triage/assessment tools • Expand online document assembly and e-filing

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