Claudia C. Johnson, Program Manager LawHelp Interactive 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 facing more 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

Solution With document assembly, litigants prepare forms that look like this.

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.

Demonstration of a form

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 ed via LHI nationally

Areas of Law Family Law143,245 Consumer Law13,056 Housing12,671 Wills and Estates7,057

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

LiveHelp integrated into a form

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

Resources: Document Assembly support site for legal non profits: For information on self help and public libraries: For LiveHelp and LawHelp (web chat and web tools information): (Liz Keith)