Legal Services and the Courts: Technology Partnerships to Improve Access to Justice Presented by Glenn Rawdon

LSC’s Technology Initiative Grants  TIG began in 2000 when Congress responded to LSC’s request for special funding to improve access to justice through technology. The initial appropriation was $5 million. We fund projects that use the principles of Innovation, Replication, and Sustainability to achieve the LSC Strategic Goals of: Increasing the provision of legal services to eligible persons Ensuring that eligible clients are receiving appropriate and high- quality legal assistance

TIG has always favored Legal Services/Court Partnerships  In 2000, in the first round of TIG, became partner with the Orange County Courts on the I-CAN! (Interactive Community Assistance Network) project  Kiosk based system (also available on the web) to provide pro se users with legal information, court information, and forms.

I-CAN! Projects in Seven States  California  Colorado  Georgia  Massachusetts  Minnesota  Oklahoma  Virginia

2004 NACM Award

National HotDocs Project  2002 Summit in NYC to choose a platform  Decision to go with HotDocs from LexisNexis  Donation by LexisNexis of HotDocs Online Server and authoring software for every state  Need for improved Pro Se Interface I-CAN now works with HotDocs A2J interface developed and available free

Designed for simplicity

Allows Users to Save Info and Return

Create Personal Folders

Store Documents for Attorney Review

Allows Creation of Common Legal Documents

Conducts Simple Interview with Help

Major Accomplishments – Statewide Web Sites  Funded statewide web sites in 48 states, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands 38 of the sites now have significant content for our client community Persons receiving community legal education services via web sites increased from 1.9 million in 2002 to 4.2 million in 2003 Persons receiving pro se assistance via web sites increased from 1.7 million in 2002 to 2.6 million in 2003 Sites offer Web-based Community Legal Education in multiple languages and using multimedia (LEP)

What is a legal Aid Statewide Website?  To find the website in your state visit

What is a legal Aid Statewide Website?  These sites provide the public with: Easy access to well-organized, comprehensive, up-to-date referrals to free and/or affordable legal representation Legal education materials Tools for self-representation Connections to the courts and social service organizations

What is a legal Aid Statewide Website?  Each site is: Created specifically for low-income, low-literacy users who are looking for legal and referral information. Designed for easy use and navigation Free - No membership or subscription

What kind of information does the website contain?  Answers to frequently-asked legal questions  Pamphlets, publications, manuals  Links to agency and organization sites  Court forms  Information on where to go for help  Information on hotlines to call for help  Schedules of free classes and clinics  News alerts

Court Channel  New York LawHelp and the NY Courts partnered to create a special Going to Court section

Court Channel Information on specific types of cases and specific locations

Montana Video Project  Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) has partnered with the Montana Supreme Court's Court Assessment Program, the Montana Juvenile Probation Officer's Association, and the 16th Judicial District to develop a videoconferencing project. This project allows low-income residents of remote parts of Montana to receive advice and legal services through a videoconferencing system. The system links an attorney in the MLSA Missoula office in Western Montana with the Court in Eastern Montana's Custer County. This projectallows an MLSA attorney and paralegal to interview and conduct intake via videoconference and to then provide legal advice and representation to clients who are hundreds of miles away.

Alaska Self-Help Centers

How can your court become a partner?  Contact your local LSC funded legal services offices (  Propose a project to be funded by TIG (