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LawHelpMN

LawHelpMN.org. A free website for low-income Minnesotans with civil legal needs. The Need. At least 80 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income Americans are not being met.

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LawHelpMN

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  1. LawHelpMN.org A free website for low-income Minnesotans with civil legal needs.

  2. The Need • At least 80 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income Americans are not being met. • In the U.S. there is about 1 lawyer per 525 persons in the general population, but only 1 legal aid lawyer per 6,861 low-income persons. • Legal Services Corporation. Documenting the Justice Gap in America-The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans. Sept. 2005.

  3. The Need (continued) • For every client served by a legal aid program, at least one person who sought help was turned down because of insufficient resources. • Legal Services Corporation. Documenting the Justice Gap in America-The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans. Sept. 2005. • Many others are turned away for other reasons: merit, conflict, income, legal issue.

  4. Why a Website? • Minnesota ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage of residents who use the Internet • Reaching rural Minnesotans • “[A]s more and more places get Internet access, the percentage of Internet users in rural areas is now almost even with the national average.” • The Progressive Policy Institute. The 2002 State New Economy Index. 2002. • Use of the Internet by low-income persons is increasing • US Dept. of Commerce. A Nation Online. Feb. 2002.

  5. Why a Website? (continued) • Preventing legal issues from becoming legal problems • Keeping legal information up-to-date • For other service providers • Part of an overall service delivery mechanism • About 50% of unmet needs can be addressed through low-cost intervention, such as educational and self-help materials. • American Bar Assoc. Findings of the Comprehensive Legal Needs Study. 1994.

  6. The LawHelp Website Template

  7. LawHelp Template (continued) • Created by Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit founded in 1998 to create website platforms and provide other technology assistance to legal services programs • LawHelp.org is the public website template used by 27 states/territories • Minnesota was one of the first states to launch a LawHelp website – in September 2003

  8. LawHelpMN.org

  9. LawHelpMN.org - Features • 18 topics of interest to low-income community, organized by popularity • 5 “Channels” of Information: • Legal Information • Legal Help Near You • Other Help Near You • Self-Help Forms • Court Information

  10. LawHelp Features (continued) • Other ways to find a lawyer: • Get Legal Help • Legal Aid Offices Directory • Video Tutorial • Other Language Resources • Spanish Mirror Site • Survey for User Feedback

  11. LawHelp Features (continued) • LiveHelp • Live online navigational assistance

  12. Demonstration of LawHelpMN

  13. Hypothetical: Charlene • Charlene is a single mother with 2 kids • Charlene makes a low wage as a clerk & cannot afford all of her costs as a parent • The father does not keep in contact with Charlene or the children, and does not provide any financial support • Charlene believes the father should help pay but doesn’t know how to get him to

  14. What Can Charlene Do? English: Spanish:

  15. LawHelpMN.org Usage • The website is used by thousands of Minnesotans each year • Usage has increased from year to year • 2006: • 70,168 Visits (192 per day) • 2007: • 83,970 Visits (230 per day) • 2008: • 112,264 Visits (306 per day) • 2009: • 143,003 (through 12/28/09) (395 per day)

  16. John Freeman Staff Attorney/Website Coordinator Minnesota Legal Services Coalition 2324 University Avenue West, Suite 101B St. Paul, MN 55114 (651) 228-9105 ext. 105 jmfreeman@mnlegalservices.org Thank you!

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