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ED116: Best Practices for ED116: Best Practices for Engaging Students in Engaging Students in Technology InitiativesTechnology InitiativesJanuary 28, 2009

•Rachel R. Medina, LSNTAP•Kristina Kirby, Chicago-Kent College of Law•Eve Ricaurte, Iowa Legal Aid

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PresentersPresentersRachel R. Medina

LSNTAP

Kristina KirbyChicago-Kent College of Law

Eve Ricaurte Iowa Legal Aid

Today’s PresentationToday’s PresentationEngaging Students – An OverviewTechnology InitiativesUsing Technology to RecruitUsing Technology to Manage

StudentsEmployment Options Best Practices for Management of

Student Projects

Why Engage Students?Why Engage Students?Students may be a good fit for

technology projects because they:

◦Embrace technology (they’re digital natives)

◦Are eager to gain real world experience

◦Provide a low-cost option

Why Engage Students?Why Engage Students?Technology projects may be a

good fit for students because:◦they can accommodate students’

busy schedules◦they provide an opportunity for

students to gain relevant work experience

◦they provide an opportunity for the student to help the community

Choosing the Right Choosing the Right StudentStudentLaw Students

◦Pro Bono requirements may provide incentive Under ABA accreditation standards, “A law

school shall offer opportunities for student participation in pro bono activities.”

◦Experience is critical to career development

College Students◦Senior “capstone” requirement may

require externship/internship component Paralegal Students

◦Seeking any legal experience

Pro Bono Requirements for Pro Bono Requirements for Law StudentsLaw StudentsGraduation Requirement: 35 schools

◦Pro Bono: set number of hours◦Public Service: exposure through service,

externship, clinic or internship◦Community Service : set number of hours

Formal Voluntary Program: 111 schools◦Referral systems with pro bono coordinator◦Administrative support for Student Projects

Independent Student Projects: 24 schools

http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/lawschools/pb_programs_chart.html

Challenges with Hiring Challenges with Hiring StudentsStudentsPerception of the “Practice of

Law”Half-Life of Student ProjectsPractical Challenges

Students’ Perception of the Students’ Perception of the “Practice of Law”“Practice of Law”Students enter law school with some

perception about the practice of law:◦Court work◦Interviewing clients◦Research for a case

The law school may also have this perception!

Add legal technology project work as a “component” of their overall internship/externship experience

Solution

Half-Life of Student Half-Life of Student ProjectsProjectsStudents begin ambitious

projects with lots of enthusiasmHalfway through the project the

student’s other obligations become more pressing

Project is ultimately left unfinished

Practical ChallengesPractical Challenges

Trivia Trivia BreakBreak

Get to Know Law StudentsGet to Know Law StudentsHow many American law schools are

currentlyapproved by the ABA?

(a) 145

(b) 200

(c) 188

(d) 197

Schools Approved Since Schools Approved Since 20002000 University of Nevada-Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of

Law (NV) Appalachian Law School (VA) Ave Maria Law School (MI) Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law (FL) University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN) Florida A&M University College of Law (FL)* Florida International University College of Law (FL) John Marshall Law School (Atlanta, GA)* Western State University College of Law (CA)* Charleston Law School (SC)* Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law

(AL)* University of LaVerne College of Law (CA)* Liberty University School of Law (VA)* Phoenix School of Law (AZ)* Charlotte School of Law (NC)* Drexel University College of Law(PA)* Elon University School of Law(NC)**ABA provisionally approved

Get to Know Law StudentsGet to Know Law Students How many law students were seeking a J.D. from

an ABA-approved law school in the 2007-2008 school year?

(a) 112, 454

(b) 141,719

(c) 125, 088

(d) 162, 416

Source: ABA Legal Education and Student Resources: http://www.abanet.org/legaled.html

Have You Considered MIS, Have You Considered MIS, Business, or Finance Business, or Finance Students?Students?Seniors may have an externship or

community service requirementCertain majors may prove especially

useful in legal technology projects:◦Management of Information Science

Have technical competence in technology

◦Business & Finance May provide unique insight on strategies for

a proposed technology initiative or marketing and management of website or other technology

Today’s PresentationToday’s PresentationEngaging Students – An OverviewTechnology InitiativesUsing Technology to RecruitUsing Technology to Manage

StudentsEmployment Options Best Practices for Management of

Student Projects

Technology InitiativesTechnology InitiativesDocument AssemblyForms DevelopmentWebsite ContentLive Help ImplementationBusiness Research for Tech

ProjectOutreach & Translation for Tech

Projects

26 national leaders from courts, legal education and legal aid

Brainstorming ideas to get law students more involved in providing legal services

Whitepaper: Leveraging Law Students and Technology To Meet the Legal Needs of Low Income People

Leveraging Law StudentsLeveraging Law Students

GOAL: Leverage the energy and skill of law students to provide technology-driven solutions to the legal problems faced by low-income individuals

Strategy:◦ Provide incentives to law students

Leadership Membership / exclusivity Academic & career growth

Leveraging Law StudentsLeveraging Law Students

A2J Student Editorial A2J Student Editorial BoardBoard

A2J Student Editorial A2J Student Editorial BoardBoardOpportunity for review of

substantive law and procedureSubject areas for interviews in

2008-2009:◦Landlord/Tenant/Housing ◦Consumer Law◦Family Law◦Elder Law

Illinois Legal Aid Online & Cook County Courts, Chicago

A2J Student Editorial A2J Student Editorial BoardBoard

Forms DevelopmentForms DevelopmentAlternative to strict technology tasksAll document assembly projects

start with a formLaw students can conduct legal

research to determine the appropriate content and format of the form

Project can then be passed on to a technologist to add the appropriate HotDocs elements

Website ContentWebsite ContentContent

◦ Research substantive areas of law and draft “guides” and articles for the website

◦ Provides students with an opportunity to research substantive law

◦ Draft online intake tools

States with successful student projects include: ◦ Montana Legal Services Association ◦ Iowa Legal Aid

Website-Related ProjectsWebsite-Related Projects

A law student’s insights A law student’s insights about about working remotely in Iowa…working remotely in Iowa…

Business Research for Tech Business Research for Tech Projects:Projects:Iowa Legal Aid & Second LifeIowa Legal Aid & Second Life

Why Students Make Good Why Students Make Good Business Researchers…Business Researchers…They provide an “outside” frame of

reference (not steeped in Legal Services “traditions”)

They come from varying backgrounds and are, perhaps, more likely to provide diverse ideas

They are forced to come to a conclusion especially where research is part of a class requirement

SL Project ResultsSL Project ResultsThe students appeared to enjoy the

project - it gave them a real world problem to solve

Several valuable ideas were generated.

Received 12 reportsEach report was varied in its approach

◦Example: One project envisioned the creation of a nonprofit legal aid “island” that the students illustrated with a flowchart.

Live HelpLive HelpA number of states are now using

Live Help to facilitate use of websites

Law Help NY to use students and pro bono attorneys in assist with this project

Outreach & Translation for Outreach & Translation for Technology-Related ProjectsTechnology-Related ProjectsTake advantage of the capabilities

of your bilingual studentsSubjects for translation:

◦Website content◦A2J Guided Interviews

Pro se tools must be advertised to the pro se community◦Signage?◦Brochures?

Today’s PresentationToday’s PresentationEngaging Students – An OverviewTechnology InitiativesUsing Technology to RecruitUsing Technology to Manage

StudentsEmployment Options Best Practices for Management of

Student Projects

Building on Traditional Building on Traditional Methods: Methods: Use Technology to RecruitUse Technology to RecruitTraditionally:

◦Identify public interest minded career placement staff at law schools and universities and advertise positions

◦Target 1st year law students who typically have difficulty getting traditional clerkship/associate positions during first summer

Supplement these efforts with technology…

Create Your Own Google Create Your Own Google Site!Site!Legal Aid of Western New York

Other Tech Recruiting Examples:www.lawstudentprobono.orgLegal Research on Demand

Today’s PresentationToday’s PresentationEngaging Students – An OverviewTechnology InitiativesUsing Technology to RecruitUsing Technology to Manage

StudentsEmployment Options Best Practices for Management of

Student Projects

……Using technology to Using technology to manage traditional legal aid manage traditional legal aid projectsprojects

Variation on a Theme…Variation on a Theme…

Benefits of Using Central Benefits of Using Central DesktopDesktop(or other Project Management Tool)(or other Project Management Tool)

Central Desktop BenefitsNo need to give access/passwords to CMS

-protects integrity of CMS data-information can simply be pasted from Central Desktop to CMS

Facilitates remote management

-ability to track progress on work as versions of documents are uploaded to site -students provided with a folder for each client

Version control

-students upload drafts-attorney can review and comment alongside the document

Knowledge management

-all progress on work is documented-eases transition of unfinished work

Today’s PresentationToday’s PresentationEngaging Students – An OverviewTechnology InitiativesUsing Technology to RecruitUsing Technology to Manage

StudentsEmployment Options Best Practices for Management of

Student Projects

Polling Polling BreakBreak

Update intake

procedure

$___

Developing templates

for paralegal use $___

Development & update

of Crystal Reports $___

Provide training $___

TOTAL $______

How much are these How much are these technology services worth?technology services worth?Update intake procedure

$___Developing templates $___Develop/update Crystal Reports

$___Provide training $___

TOTAL $______(a) $8,965(b) $25,574(c) $41,600(d) $38,445

InternshipsInternships

Part-timeor

Full-time ?

Part-timeor

Full-time ?

Summeror

Semester ?

Summeror

Semester ?Paid

orUnpaid ?

Paidor

Unpaid ?

Unpaid InternshipsUnpaid Internships

Encourage students to check with their school’s public interest organization for funding or …

…Equal Justice Works Summer Corps Program ◦ http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/

summercorpsindex.php

…Equal Justice America ◦ http://www.equaljusticeamerica.org/

…PSLawNet Community Resources- Summer Funding◦ http://www.pslawnet.org/cms/index.php?pid=50

ExternshipsExternshipsFor-credit externships

◦During the school year◦Summer

For law students: ◦Determine whether your project would

fulfill public interest program requirements

College students:◦Apply with University Department

Leaders to participate in their extern program

VolunteerVolunteer

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise!◦If the work can be done remotely,

advertise with all major schools

Federal Work StudyFederal Work StudyFederal work study is financial aid and

based on need - not all students qualify◦ Have the student check with their financial aid

department regarding eligibilityCommunity Service Jobs are given special

priority in FWS◦ Schools must use at least 7% of its FWS allocation

towards this job type◦ AND per the FWS handbook,

“an FWS student does not have to provide a ‘direct’ service. The student must provide services that are designed to improve the quality of life for community residents or to solve particular problems related to those residents’ needs.”

Today’s PresentationToday’s PresentationEngaging Students – An OverviewTechnology InitiativesUsing Technology to RecruitUsing Technology to Manage

StudentsEmployment Options Best Practices for Management of

Student Projects

A Short Collection of Best A Short Collection of Best Practices From the Field…Practices From the Field…Make sure the student is a good

match - ◦Ideal Method:

work with a professor who helps match students to projects (this works well with college seniors)

◦Next Best Option: Finding students with technology experience

◦At the Very Least: Work with those doing recruiting in your

organization to make expertise and interest in technology a greater consideration in hiring law students and staff

Legal Services Corporation of Legal Services Corporation of Delaware & the University of Delaware & the University of DelawareDelaware

A Short Collection of Best A Short Collection of Best Practices From the Field…Practices From the Field…Know what you want preciselyKnow the student’s objectives

◦Are they looking for… “office” experience? something convenient they can fit between

classes?

◦Objectives may be dependent on time of year

Know their schedules (classes/exams)Discuss project objectives with the

students up front

A Short Collection of Best A Short Collection of Best Practices From the Field…Practices From the Field…Let them make their mistakes, but find

an efficient way to monitor them (e.g., Central Desktop or other PM Tool)

Take responsibility for their actions/work

Map each student to a person in the office that can inform the project

Let the students be involved in the problem solving – they often come up with better solutions!

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Don’t forget to complete our survey

Rachel R. Medina rachel@lstnap.orgTraining Coordinator LSNTAP

Kristina Kirby kkirby@kentlaw.eduEditor-in-Chief A2J Student Editorial Board Chicago-Kent College of Law

Eve Ricaurte ericaurte@iowalaw.org Managing AttorneyEast Iowa Intake and Pro Se Projects

Iowa Legal Aid