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Helping People Help Themselves: Pro Se Assistance Initiatives

Helping People Help Themselves: Pro Se Assistance Initiatives. Al Schwartz Executive Director - CARPLS aschwartz@carpls.org . CARPLS: Overview. Legal aid hotline Operates 4 court-based advice desks Provides limited representation legal services & referrals

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Helping People Help Themselves: Pro Se Assistance Initiatives

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  1. Helping People Help Themselves: Pro Se Assistance Initiatives • Al Schwartz • Executive Director - CARPLS • aschwartz@carpls.org

  2. CARPLS: Overview • Legal aid hotline • Operates 4 court-based advice desks • Provides limited representation legal services & referrals • Thirty attorneys on staff, many part-time • 50,000 client services in FY09

  3. Legal Aid Hotline: Overview • In operation for 15 years • Monday through Friday from 9:00AM -4:30PM & Wednesdays until 8:00 PM • 25+ Staff Attorneys • 65+ Attorney & Law Student volunteers • 33,000 client services in FY 09

  4. Legal Aid Hotline: Intake & Consultations • Intake & Consultation performed by staff attorneys and volunteer attorneys & law students • Average consultation: 30 Minutes • Services include: • Legal Advice (65%) • Legal Drafting/Self-Help Packets (20%) • Legal Aid Referrals (15%)

  5. Legal Aid Hotline: Pro Se Assistance • Provides “self-help” assistance to pro se litigants and non-litigants when appropriate • New generation of self-help client publications • Drafts letters and simple pleadings on client’s behalf • Supports “self-help” litigation with court-based advice desks

  6. Legal Aid Hotline: Outcomes • Standardize your legal strategies • Develop outcome measures • Perform outcome testing

  7. Legal Aid Hotline: Lessons Learned • Keep it simple • Eliminate as many barriers as possible • Provide support • Perform outcome tests

  8. CARPLS Advice Desks • Domestic Relations Advice Desk • Collection Advice Desk • Municipal Court Advice Desk • Administrative Hearings Advice Desk

  9. Domestic Relations Advice Desk

  10. Domestic Relations Desk: Overview • In operation for 7 years • Monday through Friday from 9:00AM -1:00PM • 30th Floor, Daley Center • 3 Staff Attorneys, 1 Intake Coordinator & 1 Paralegal • 5,500 client services in FY 09

  11. Domestic Relations Desk: Intake • First-Come-First Served, No appointments • Quick Screen Performed by Intake Coordinator on CLASS case management software • Check for conflicts of interest • Confirm eligibility for service (up to 200% of the Poverty Level)

  12. Domestic Relations Desk: Consultations • Consultations conducted by experienced family law staff attorneys • Average consultation: 45 Minutes • Services include: • Legal Advice (52%) • Legal Drafting/Self-Help Packets (38%) • Legal Aid Referrals (10%)

  13. Domestic Relations Desk: Pro Se Assistance • Assists pro se litigants with simple, uncontested family law matters (pre and post-decree) • Petitions for Dissolutions = 80% of all self-help drafting • Divorce by Agreement • Divorce by Publication • “No Issues” Divorce • Joint Simplified Divorce

  14. Domestic Relations Desk: Outcomes • Draft 80 Self-Help Divorce Packets Per Month/1,000 Self-Help Divorce Packets Per Year • 88% Clients follow through with Self-Help Divorce by filing their Petition for Dissolution • 97% Clients who file their Petition for Dissolution obtained a divorce • Average Court Case: 7 weeks

  15. Collection Advice Desk

  16. Collection Desk: Overview • In operation for 3 years • Monday through Friday from 9:00AM -12:30PM • Courtroom 1401, Daley Center • 2 Staff Attorneys, 1-2 Law Student/Attorney Volunteers & 1 Intake Coordinator • 3,200 client services in FY 09

  17. Collection Desk: Consultations • Consultations conducted by staff attorneys and law student & private attorney volunteers • Average Consultation: 15 Minutes • Services include: • Legal Advice (85%) • Legal Aid Referrals (15%)

  18. Collection Desk: Pro Se Assistance • Assists pro se litigants with post-judgment collection actions • Citation to Discover Assets • Wage Garnishments • Bank Freezes • License Suspension • Court Ordered Payment Plans • Instruct pro se litigants how to present their defenses in court and/or to opposing counsel

  19. Collection Desk: Outcomes • Main Outcome: Educate clients about their rights and responsibilities • Bank Freeze Exemption Granted: 88% of Desk cases • Wage Garnishment Exemption/Reduction Granted: 43% of Desk cases • Citation to Discovery Assets Dismissed: 95% of Desk cases

  20. Municipal Court Advice Desk

  21. Municipal Court Desk: Overview • In operation since 1987. Formerly run by Chicago-Kent Law School. CARPLS took over management in March 2008 • Monday through Friday from 8:30AM - 4:30PM • Room 602, Daley Center • 3 Staff Attorneys, 1-2 Law Student/Attorney Volunteers & 1 Intake Coordinator + 1 CLC Staff Attorney (In-Court Representation) • 7,200 client services in FY 09

  22. Municipal Court Desk: Intake • First-Come-First Served, No appointments • Quick Screen Performed by Intake Coordinator on CLASS case management software • Check for conflicts of interest • Confirm eligibility for service (up to 300% of the Poverty Level)

  23. Municipal Court Desk: Consultations • Consultations conducted by staff attorneys and law student & private attorney volunteers • Average consultation: 40 Minutes • Services include: • Legal Advice (50%) • Legal Drafting/Self-Help Packets (35%) • Legal Aid Referrals (15%)

  24. Municipal Court Desk: Pro Se Assistance • Assists pro se litigants with cases pending in the Municipal Division: Evictions, Contracts & Torts. • Evictions Legal Drafting: Motions to Vacate, Motions to Dismiss, Motions to Extend Stay • Contracts & Torts Legal Drafting: Motions to Dismiss, Motions to Vacate, Motions to Quash

  25. Municipal Court Desk: Outcomes • New desk - just starting to do outcome testing • Evictions: 85% Post Decree (Order of Possession Entered) • Contracts: 65% Pre Decree Debt Collections • Torts: 80% Pre Decree Auto Accident Claims

  26. Administrative Hearings Advice Desk

  27. Administrative Hearings Desk: Overview • In operation since January 2008 • Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 9:00AM -1:00PM • Department of Administrative Hearings, 400 West Superior • 1 Staff Attorney • 1,000 client services in FY 09

  28. Administrative Hearings Desk: Consultations • Assists pro se litigants with cases pending before the Department of Administrative Hearings: Building Code, Vehicle Impounds, Health, Consumer & General Municipal Code violations • Consultations conducted by staff attorneys • Average consultation: 40 Minutes • Services include: • Legal Advice Only

  29. Administrative Hearings Desk: Outcomes • Educate clients about their legal rights and responsibilities • City always wins

  30. Advice Desks: Lessons Learned • Be flexible • Identify the legal needs • Develop informational & self-help materials • Collaborate with judges, clerks, private bar & other stake holders • Develop staffing redundancy/Cross train your staff • Outcome test

  31. CARPLS Case Management Software • CLASS 2.0 • Web based/access from any location • Quick conflict check & financial eligibility calculator • Advanced Resource/Knowledge Management • Automated Document Assembly • Live on-line support • Integrated client outcome surveys

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