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CLEO

CLEO. Researching for Impact Presentation to PLEAC conference October 26, 2012. Purpose of CLEO’s research work . To inform and support the public legal education and information work of legal and community-based organizations in Ontario

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CLEO

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  1. CLEO Researching for Impact Presentation to PLEAC conference October 26, 2012

  2. Purpose of CLEO’s research work • To inform and support the public legal education and information work of legal and community-based organizations in Ontario • Research will focus on supporting PLEI intended for communities that face barriers to meaningful participation in the justice system (for example, low-income, literacy, language, disability, ethno-cultural, rural or remote)

  3. Research currently underway • Database of existing research • PLEI in Ontario communities: effective formats and delivery channels • Evolving Legal Services and Access to Justice

  4. Database of existing research • Purpose and expected use • Initial collection compiled by Ryerson Law Research Centre • About 100 resources described and available through searchable database

  5. Recurring themes in existing research • Four themes observed by Ryerson researchers: • PLEI is a supplement to rather than a replacement for affordable legal representation; • delivery methods, whether print or digital, that do not provide one-to-one contact limit efficacy; • particularly vulnerable populations such as recent immigrants, Aboriginal people and the disability community remain under-serviced; • print materials distribution in frequently visited non-legal community sites such as public libraries, laundromats and medical walk-in clinics is an important outreach tool.

  6. Recommended themes for future research • Three areas for future research recommended by Ryerson researchers • First recommended research area: • The existing research on evaluation provides little insight into the impact of PLEI on legal outcomes. Using data analysis and interviews, questions relating to the impact of PLEI on legal outcomes should be explored. • This is already the subject of CLEO research.

  7. Second recommended research area • The current literature pays scant attention to the social and political context in which PLEI needs arise. • Factors such as the intensification of poverty, restricted access to legal representation for middle and low-income communities and the growing complexity of legal proceedings in light of the Charter and human rights argumentation may impact PLEI needs but further research is required.

  8. Third recommended research area • Some research traces the evolution of PLEI from its inception as a social justice movement, but more should be done. • What explains the transformation of PLEI into a more passive information sharing medium than initially intended? • Is there a desire in the PLEI community to return to its roots? If so, is it feasible at current resource levels? • What would need to change in the design, delivery and evaluation of PLEI in order to amplify the empowerment of the target audiences?

  9. Research database: next steps • Starter research database available now at www.plelearningexchange.ca • Many gaps in reports identified in database: plan to review and add over next two months • Please help: tell us what we’re missing!

  10. CLEO’s Evolving Legal Services project • Key research question: • In what circumstances, and in what types of cases, is PLEI effective in providing meaningful access to justice? • Research will collect evidence through carrying out case studies, yet to be identified.

  11. Some more questions • Are there differences in case outcomes where parties had access to and relied exclusively or primarily on PLEI, those where PLEI was provided in conjunction with other legal services, and those where full legal advice and representation were provided?

  12. And other questions • Where PLEI is relied on as a primary form of legal services delivery, what factors or characteristics affect the likelihood of positive outcomes? • What practices enhance the effectiveness of PLEI, when delivered as a stand-alone or as a complementary service?

  13. Evolving Legal Services research planning • Phase 1: developing a research plan (until March 2013); will then seek funding to implement research plan (Phase 2) • Major work in Phase 1: literature review, clarifying research questions, defining research methodology including case studies

  14. Evolving Legal Services research planning • Planning work involves: • Input from 15-person Research Advisory Group • Coordination of work (by Melina Buckley in BC) • Definition of research methodology, led by Les Jacobs, Executive Director of Canadian Forum on Civil Justice

  15. CLEO research: next steps • All research will be available on CLEO’s new PLE learning network: www.plelearningexchange.ca • We have circulated short poll to participants in learning network – and to many of you – to get input on future research interests • 100 responses received in short order, on several possible PLE-related research areas

  16. CLEO research: next steps • Give suggestions and feedback at www.plelearningexchange.ca • Or contact me at: mathewsj@lao.on.ca

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