Post on 23-Dec-2015
transcript
Claudia C. Johnson, Program Manager LawHelp Interactivecjohnson@probono.net509-396-7934http://www.probono.net/dasupport
powered by Pro Bono Net
To Be Covered
•Assisting Self-Represented Litigants•Pro Bono Net•Addressing Your Community’s Needs
•The problem•How does it work?•Who and where?
•Business Case
What is LawHelp Interactive?
Software as a Service•Produces self-help friendly forms•Helps litigants fill out court forms•Saves time and money by eliminating errors
and improving workflow
Leverages significant national investments by• Legal Services Corporation• State Justice Institute• Since 2005 has served over 1 Million interviews
Who is Pro Bono Net?
Pro Bono Net• National nonprofit • Founded in 1998 with support from major law firms• Managing LawHelp Interactive since 2005
Mission• Increase access to justice for the poor
How?• Develop innovative technology• Facilitate collaboration• Increase pro bono participation• Four tools: online forms, websites, and web chat and data base
The problem
Courts and legal non profits and their partners are facingmore self-represented litigants while resources to support them are cut.
The problem
Litigants without lawyers produce forms that look like
this.
Hard to read
and
understand
Benefits
• Filings are legible and complete.
• Clerks file more forms in less time with significantly fewer rejections.
• Judges get information to make informed decisions, work more efficiently and reschedule fewer hearings.
• Litigants are more satisfied with process.• Litigants understand the process better and feel
ownership in the outcomes of the case.
Washington State experience
Litigants using NJP divorce module• 80% make $36k or less annually• 50% had filed legal documents before
• 60% saved at least 40 minutes using LHI• 75% gave more relevant information to the court
• 87% were satisfied or very satisfied with experience
“All I can suggest is to keep up the good work here, it was very easy to use and I will be recommending this site to everyone I know that is going through this difficult time.”
--Washington State LHI User
How does it work?
Self-represented litigants answer questions during guided interview.
Court forms filled out from the answers.
Answers can be saved and reused.
A2J Author® user experience powered by HotDocs Server® document automation software.
Who is using LHI?
• 217,213 documents generated in 2011 or between 500 and 900 documents per day
• Over 3800 interviews in Ontario in 2011• Low income litigants without attorneys• In family law court• 10,380 documents emailed via LHI
nationally
From where?
Public libraries
Law libraries
Self help centers like in Ontario
At court’s filing rooms
At kiosks
From home or from work
Web Chat (Live Help)
In some states, legal aid and courts are
using LiveHelp to help web page visitors
find the forms. Examples:
Arkansas, Montana, New York
Other user feedback
• This is a great [hel[p], the interview is simple, clear and strai[g]ht forward. This site is well thought out and designed. Thanks a million for helping the community at large. –NY User
• These forms will be very helpful if the Judge will sign them, because I am unemployed and can not afford to hire a lawyer or pay the filing fees for my divorce. –NY User
• Thank you for your continued online support. Due to the fact that I am a disabled individual the online support is a great asset/tool that enable[d] me to take the necessary steps in legal resolution/relief. –IL User
• THIS IS A GREAT TOOL BEST THING EVER MAKE IT EASY TO USE—Colorado User