BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC

1. BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC Tina Rasnow Senior Attorney/Coordinator, Self-Help Legal Access Center Ventura County Superior Court

2. What is community? • Familes • Schools • Environment • Governmental Institutions • Businesses • Faith Based Institutions • Organizations • Courts

3. Role of the Courts in a Community • Resolve Disputes • Dispense Justice • Maintain Social Order • Preserve Constitutional Freedoms • Uphold Rule of Law

4. We are the gatekeepers to justice • Without access to the courts there can be no justice • Without justice there can be no peace • Those of us who work in the justice system are its gatekeepers

5. Building Partnerships

6. Recognizing Diverse Stakeholders • Individuals • Businesses • Non-profit agencies • Government • Educators • Lawyers

7. Recognizing Diverse StakeholdersIndividuals • Age • Gender • Race, Ethnicity, Nationality • Economic • Disability • Sexual Orientation • Language

8. Recognizing Diverse StakeholdersHow Individuals Use the Court • Witnesses • Civil Litigants • Representatives • Jurors • Defendants • Petitioners

9. Understanding Core Values of Stakeholders • Justice • Fairness • Respect

10. Addressing Stakeholder Needs • Understanding Complex Laws and Procedures • Accessing Courts and Related Services • Overcoming Language, Literacy and Cultural Barriers • Overcoming Economic Barriers

11. Educating About Role of Courts • Outreach to Schools • Juror Education • Presentations to Service Clubs and Business Organizations • Columns in Local Papers • Local Cable Programming • Radio Programs • Court Tour/Docent Programs

12. Communicating With Community Organizations • Service Organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, etc. • Bar Associations • Legal Secretary and Legal Assistant Organizations • Non-profit Organizations • Government Agencies

13. Anticipating Future Trends • Economic • Ethnic, Cultural, Demographic • Environmental • Social • Political

14. Thinking Outside the Box Community Collaboration to Promote Access to Justice

15. Holistic Law and Therapeutic or Restorative Justice • Self-Help Centers • Homeless Courts • Youth Courts • Domestic Violence Courts • Drug Courts • Mental Health Courts

16. Budget Self-Help Centers Mobile Center Computer Systems No or Little Money Form Motions Step-by-step Instructions Volunteers What is Possible?

17. Ventura Superior CourtSelf-Help Programs Our Court is Here for the People we Serve

18. Family Law Pro Per Clinic - 1996Family Law Self-Help Centers - 1997

19. Self-Help Legal Access CenterJanuary 1998

20. Oxnard Self-Help Legal Access Center December 1998

21. Mobile Self-Help CenterNovember 1999

22. THE PLANNING PROCESS • Funding • Space • Staffing • Equipment • Training • Evaluation

23. GOING OFF SITE • Communities • Off-site centers/mobile centers • Scheduling • Publicity

24. Landlord/Tenant (especially eviction defense) Guardianship of the person Contract disputes Consumer issues Personal Injury Traffic infractions Small claims Neighbor disputes Step-parent adoptions Name changes Real estate disputes Conservatorship of the person Types of Matters Handled in the SHLA Centers

25. Step-by-step instruction guides Nolo Press Books Codes and legal guidebooks Fill-in-the-blank forms for motions commonly brought by pro per litigants Internet access Videos on different legal subjects Referrals to other resources Staff to assist with information and procedural questions Materials Available to Assist the Public

26. Training Staff • Being responsive to the public • Giving information vs. advice

27. Basic Rules for Working in the SHLA Center • Do not solicit business from people using the SHLA Center. • Make sure everyone signs an intake form before you assist them. • Request each person who has received help to complete an evaluation form.

28. Basic Rules (cont.) • Do not make estimates about the outcome of motions or other matters pending before the court. • Do not gossip or discuss what you may know about a person or case with people using the SHLA Center. • Do not be afraid to tell people you do not know the answer.

29. Basic Rules (cont.) • Make sure you are referring the person to the correct place before sending him or herthere. • The SHLA Center works on a “drop-in basis,” and does not provide information by telephone. • Dress appropriately. • Treat everyone with respect.

30. Basic Rules (cont.) • Let us know when you are available and unavailable to work. • Do not allow food or drink in the SHLA Center. • Keep an eye on the materials so as to minimize theft. • Ask people to control their children or when possible, direct them to the Children’s Waiting Room.

31. WHY COLLABORATATIONS ARE IMPORTANT • The court does not have the resources to meet the need for legal information and assistance • Other agencies may have more knowledge about issues unique to specific communities • Courts may have difficulty communicating information to diverse communities

32. WHY COLLABORATIONS ARE IMPORTANT (2) • Strong court/community ties help improve public access to the courts • Strong court/community ties help public perception of the courts

33. Local bar associations State bar association Law schools Community colleges Law library Public libraries Local cable TV stations Court interpreters Legal secretaries, paralegals, and legal assistant professional organizations District Attorney Consumer Fraud Small Claims Victim Services COLLABORATIONS

34. Advocates for the Disabled Department of Consumer Affairs Public Interest Clearing House and related Internet Sites Non-profit Organizations Governmental Agencies Local Newspapers Radio Shows Service Organizations COLLABORATIONS (Cont.)

35. TARGETED POPULATIONS • Who are the users? • What are their needs? • What types of legal problems and non-legal problems are presented?

36. Areas of Greatest Demand (4 yrs) • Family Law 34,619 • Unlawful Detainer 2,832 • Small Claims 1,541 • Guardianship 1,257 • Contract Dispute 1,014 • Traffic Infractions 918 • Consumer 769 • Change of Name 510

37. Areas of Greatest Demand (cont.) • Personal Injury 583 • Real Estate Dispute 500 • Civil Harassment 429 • Conservatorship 351 • Adoption 303 • Labor/Employment 264 • Neighbor Dispute 113

38. Number of Volunteer Hours in Self-Help Programs (2 yrs.)* • Attorneys 4,212 • Law and paralegal students 6,605 • Legal secretaries and legal assistants 416 • Other community volunteers 2,808 • Total volunteer hours 14,041 • *The number of volunteer hours is an approximation because until late 2000, not all self-help centers logged in volunteer hours

39. LESSONS LEARNED • What has worked? • What hasn’t worked? • What is working best?

40. BENEFITS • Increased access • Trust and confidence • Efficiencies • Customer satisfaction

41. Never Be Afraid to Ask, Because if You Don’t Ask, the Answer is Always “No.”