Self-Help in Rural/Small Court Settings Charting the Path to Service

Challenges (or Opportunities?) ► Geography and Demographics ► Planning Level Considerations - State-wide or Local Approach ► Partners for Planning and Resources ► Service Delivery Models

Challenges (or Opportunities?) ► Confidentiality Concerns ► Staffing ► Isolation ► Funding - Building Political Support

Geography and Demographics Wide-open spaces – How can services be offered? ► Approaches:  Statewide effort – Central support from Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)  Tapping urban resources  Developing resources locally  Regional planning

Geography and Demographics– Wide-open spaces – how can services be offered? Statewide effort and central support from AOC ► Internet-posted resources, often with standard forms ► Document assembly programs ► Telephone helpline ► Video connections via Internet ► Workshops, lectures and classes ► Central full-service office training deputy clerks to provide limited services in other areas

Geography and Demographics – Wide-open spaces – how can services be offered? Tapping Existing Urban Resources ► Urban areas develop materials, forms, and other resources which are then available statewide via internet (e.g. Nevada, Arizona). ► Staff trained by larger volume courts can use these resources to provide more limited services in rural areas. ► Volunteer attorneys provide self-help clinics and reduced fee services in rural areas.

Geography and Demographics – Wide-open spaces – how can services be offered? Developing Resources Locally ► Local county courts develop resources, posted to and shared through Internet. ► Local pro bono programs and legal services create standard forms and offer workshops. ► Local county courts develop local forms for use in their courts. ► In person services offered to extend County Law Library services.

Geography and Demographics – Wide-open spaces – how can services be offered? Regional Planning for Services ► Inter-county collaborations for one attorney to provide services at a number of locations via videoconferencing – with clerk staff at each site – for workshops, walk-ins, phone assistance. ► Partnerships with legal services allowing one attorney to rotate services in a number of counties at local courts. ► Use neighboring resources (including those particularly able to serve certain populations, such as Limited-English speakers) to provide workshops, mobile self-help outreach and presentations on different areas of law.

Planning Level Considerations ► Statewide Approach (top down) (top down)  State Mandate  Resources ► Training and Development ► Evaluation  Structural Limitations ► Local Approach (bottom up)  Individualized Design  Start Small, Work with What You Have  May be easier to mobilize local resources  May be frustrating and confusing for court users when dealing with different courts

Planning and program partners - Design Considerations ► Identify key stakeholders ► Decide approach to developing program  Involve partners from the start  Expand partnerships at a later point ► Identify potential partners for program operations ► Identify resources that partners can bring ► Decide role for partners to play ► Set up structure for partner involvement and decision making, e.g. advisory board, task force.

Planning and program partners ► Judges and other bench officers ► Court clerks ► Court administration ► Legal aid providers ► Pro bono programs/attorneys ► Bar association, esp. affected sections ► Educational Institutions  Law  Paralegal  Undergrad  High School ► Legislators; local politicians ► Law libraries ► AARP ► Credit Unions ► Law Enforcement ► Attorneys General ► Mediation programs ► Community-based organizations  Social & human service providers  Community centers  Churches

SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS ► One-on-one: in-person, via telephone, via internet, live web-chat ► Group: in-person, via video, via video- conferencing, live web

Confidentiality Concerns ► Where “everybody knows everybody else’s business,” patrons may be reluctant to seek help where they are known, depending upon case type. ► Resources can be made available through various access points/channels: telephone, internet, public library, churches, social service agencies.

Staffing ► Volunteers (who supervises?) ► Interns (who supervises?) ► Rotate other court staff ► Paid Staff Position – Attorney or clerk?  Lancaster County experience - clerical level staff person ► Contract out service – e.g. Maryland

Staff Isolation ► Self-help staff, like judges and patrons, all can feel isolated, physically as well as emotionally. ► Single staff need a fairly immediate resource for getting their questions answered as they provide services. ► Opportunities for interaction with others providing services is important.

Funding – Building Political Support ► Evaluations – need for services; benefits of services to patrons, court system, agencies ► The broader the population for whom services are available, the more likely is broad support for developing/continuing a program ► Partnering to leverage support

Resources ► Lessons From the Country ► Beth M. Henschen, 2002, American Judicature Society publication made possible through a State Justice Institute grant ► Opening Technology Supported Help Centers for the Self-Represented in Courts and Communities: How to Get Started; Operational Issues; The Use of Technology, Partnerships and Volunteers by W. Moore B. Hough, R. Zorza, S. Deamer, A. McDermott and G. Amateau ► Self Represented Litigant Network, May &folderID=103057&appView=folder&r=appview~~folder,id~~103057,rootf older~~23178,fa~~detailhttp:// 350&folderID=103057&appView=folder&r=appview~~folder,id~~103057,rootf older~~23178,fa~~detail or 350&folderID=103057&appView=folder&r=appview~~folder,id~~103057,rootf older~~23178,fa~~detail ► ► Best Practices in Court-Based Programs for the Self-Represented: Concepts, Attributes and Issues for Exploration ► Self Represented Litigant Network, December 2006, ► Self-Help Support – ► Single site for information, resources, referrals, mentoring, best practices

Resources ► American Bar Association ► Access to Justice Partnerships State by State ► Rural Pro Bono Delivery Report ► American Judicature Society – ► Information and referrals ► State Justice Institute – ► Grants ► National Center for State Courts – ► Information ► Justice Management Institute ► Trial Court Research and Improvement Consortium ► Conference of State Court Administrators -

Program Contacts: ► Mary Boudreau Public Access to the Courts Admin. Office of the Courts P.O. Box Salt Lake City, UT (801) ► Eleanor Gerlott Lancaster County Law Library 50 N. Duke St. Lancaster, PA (717) ► Frances H. Thompson Court Assistance Services PO Box 8068 Moscow, ID (208)