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MN Courts “virtual” Self-Help Center

MN Courts “virtual” Self-Help Center. Goals:. Expand your knowledge of statewide Self-Help Center and pro se resources Increase your ability to make quality referrals to the SHC website and call-center, and other legal resources

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MN Courts “virtual” Self-Help Center

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  1. MN Courts “virtual”Self-Help Center

  2. Goals: • Expand your knowledge of statewide Self-Help Center and pro se resources • Increase your ability to make quality referrals to the SHC website and call-center, and other legal resources • Start using court websites as a work tool for responding to customer questions about laws, Rules, forms, procedures, legal resources, etc.

  3. MN Courts on the Internet MN Judicial Branch www.mncourts.gov District Courts www.mncourts.gov/district/10 Self-Help Center www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp Court Forms www.mncourts.gov/forms TIP: Short & easy URLs to give over the phone, or include on brochures, handouts, etc.

  4. “Access to Justice” and the MN Courts • Mission of equal access, and ”Strategic Priority” to offer baseline level of pro se services statewide • MN Courts statewide “virtual”Self-Help Center • MN Rule Gen. Prac, Rule110, Self-Help Programs • more than referrals – forms, instructions, 1:1 help • education on basic legal literacy • no legal advice • Partnerships - Public Libraries in Dakota and Hennepin Counties; MLSC; Bar Assoc.; etc.

  5. Access to Self-Help Resources • Self-Help Center website (statewide) on the Internetwww.mncourts.gov/selfhelp • Self-Help computer workstationswith Internet access • all county courthouses (except Hubbard) • some public libraries • one-on-one help via call-center and email • new & updated legal content and tools with emphasis on “plain language” and ease of use • Different resources at specific District Courts

  6. Court Self-Help Centers in the MJB • Hennepin Co. Court: 2 walk-in SHCs (Family & Civil) • Ramsey Co. Court: 1 walk-in SHC (Family) • Washington Co. Court: 1 walk-in SHC • County Law Libraries: SRL programs ~ 10 counties • Statewide “virtual”SHC offering services on 20+ legal topics via: • Website (since June’06) • SHC workstations (since June '07) • Call-center (since April’08) • Email • Forms screening (since June ‘10) • 3 FTE staff attorneys

  7. “virtual” Self-Help Center: Why & How?  Courts becoming a legal “E.R”  Relieve demand on frontline staff  Proven impact of SHCs on court operations and access to justice  Pro se services in Strategic Plan  Web technology became more cost- effective and accessible  Statewide forms  Leveraged partnerships and received grants to innovate & pilot www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp e Self-Help Workstation

  8. “virtual”Self-Help Center • Educate on court forms & procedures • Refer to legal services, advice & resources • Present legal workshops for SRLs via ITV • Screen forms via co-browsing technology (pilot on June 2010) • Develop content & technology tools

  9. Public Pro Se WorkstationSibley County Courthouse

  10. Guidelines for Referral to SHC MN State lawissues in District or Conciliation Court. Case can be in any County in MN(no service limit based on income). Questions on court forms & procedures Ability to read and follow instructions. Not ideal for those with low literacy (except some videos and LEP materials). User has a complex or contested case, or needs legal advice? Refer to Find a Lawyerpage on SHC website.(www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp/?page=252)

  11. Self-Help Center Website www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp • Statewide service (staff office 4th Dist. courthouse) • Target audience  public/pro se litigants • “Hot” Topics, court forms, resources, some foreign language • Cross-links to LOTS of other resources • Contact Us page (call-center & email) Content ideas & suggestions welcome!

  12. Forms • Statewide forms: www.mncourts.gov/forms • 400+ MSWord and fillable PDF forms • 35+ legal categories • Some local court forms • Web links to other legal forms made by justice partners

  13. Document Assembly Tools • I-CAN!Divorce Forms (individual AND Joint Petitions; with & without kids) • I-CAN!Fee Waiver Forms • A2JHarassment Petition Forms • TurboCourtConciliation Court Forms • E-filing • Pilot projects in the Fall of 2010 in Hennepin and Ramsey • Pro se user interface TBD

  14. Co-Browsing • Remote access into user’s computer to:Navigation | Screen Forms | Trouble-shoot • No software needed on user side • File transfer, chat, presentations, etc.

  15. a closer look…

  16. Susan Ledray, 4th Dist. Sr. Manager612.348.8468 Katrina Zabinski, 4th Dist. Attorney II612.596.9134 Thank You!

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