New York Announces Release of Interactive Court Forms

The New York State Unified Court System recently released interactive forms to help self-represented litigants navigate the legal system. Through the use of A2J Author software, litigants who visit CourtHelp and LawHelpNY are guided through the process to complete Support Modification Petitions, Small Estates Affidavits, and Adult Name Change Petitions. To learn more about the project, and the partnerships involved, read the press release.

Unbundled Legal Services Increasingly Popular

In an article for Lawyers USA, Correy E. Stephenson explores the increased popularity of unbundled legal services. The article highlights how unbundled legal services may benefit both attorneys and clients, and how many courts now encourage the use of unbundling to assist an increasing number of pro se litigants.

Wisconsin Program Focuses on Serving Self-Represented Litigants

An interactive learning program is being developed so that Wisconsin court clerks may better assist self-represented litigants. The program, titled Walking the Line, will use video vignettes and quizzes to focus on how clerks may offer appropriate assistance to self-represented litigants. To learn more about Walking the Line, click here.

California Resolution Supports Limited Scope Legal Assistance

The State Bar of California Board of Governors approved a resolution that encourages the expansion of limited scope legal assistance. The resolution calls on bar leaders, law schools, lawyer referral services, insurance carries and the courts to promote the increased use of limited scope representation to serve low and moderate income Californians. To learn more, and to view the resolution, click here.

Big Jump in Pro Se Cases

An article written by Jerry Crimmins and published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin examines the growing number of pro se litigants in the Cook County court system. Statistics presented in the article suggest more people are representing themselves in response to the current recession. The article provides information on the self-help resources available, and how such programs often struggle to meet the needs of the pro se litigants.

Kansas Approves Pilot Project on Limited Scope Representation

The Kansas Supreme Court announced a pilot project on limited scope representation. The project, developed by the Self-Represented Study Committee, includes courts from three judicial districts. The pilot will commence on July 1, 2009, with an evaluation period lasting until December 1, 2010. As part of the project, the Self-Represented Study Committee also developed court forms to be used in limited scope representation. For more information on the project, visit the Kansas Judicial Council site.

Massachusetts Expands Limited Assistance Representation

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts recently issued an order expanding limited assistance representation. The order, effective May 1, 2009, follows the completion of the Limited Assistance Representation Pilot Project and concludes that limited assistance representation helps expand access to justice in the trial courts. For more information on the Limited Assistance Representation Pilot Project, and to read the order, click here.

New York State Report Addresses Access for Self-Represented Litigants

The Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives recently released Expanding Access to Justice in New York State. The ten-year report includes information on initiatives that improve access for self-represented litigants.

Another Sign of Tough Times: Legal Aid for the Middle Class

An article written by Carol J. Williams and published in the LA Times examines resources available to help those affected by the current economic crisis. Online legal services, self-help centers and unbundling are all discussed as options for individuals seeking affordable legal services.

Tech Hearing Report Coming Soon

The Committee has completed hearings on the use of technology for the delivery of legal services and is now preparing a report on policy issues that need to be examined. To listen to the presentations, click here.

The Virtual Courthouse receives 2009 Brown Award

An exemplary model of online dispute resolution was selected to receive the 2009 Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Boston. The Award is presented by the Delivery Committee each year to a program that provides affordable access to justice in innovative ways. This project illustrates the capacity of ODR to provide arbitration and mediation for the full range of legal disputes in ways that are quick and affordable. Those who turn to the Virtual Courthouse are not constrained by time or location. They merely need Internet access.

Three additional nominees were selected to receive meritorious recognition.

• The Community Legal Resource Network at the CUNY School of Law operates an Incubator for Justice, providing practice management support, mentoring and facilities that foster law practices oriented toward representing people in underserved communities.
• Heisler, Feldman, McCormick & Garrow, PC, a Massachusetts law firm, represents only low and moderate income tenants, consumers, employees and victims of discrimination in litigation on a fee-shifting basis. Clients never pay for the services.
• Have Justice – Will Travel is a nonprofit organization that provides legal services as part of a holistic endeavor to end domestic violence in rural Vermont.

Click here for additional information about these programs and the Brown Award.

Innovations Guide Provides Help to Lawyers in the New Economy

Looking at client outreach differently, unbundling services, using technology more cost-effectively and exploring niche markets are ways that can help improve a law practice in difficult economic times. Examples of innovations in these areas are included in the Delivery Committee’s Guide to Innovations.

The Committee also offers a training program on this topic. For more information, contact . If you have other innovative ideas, please pass them along so they can be included in future material.

Teaching Access to Justice

Interested in teaching access to justice at law school, but you don’t know how to get started? The Delivery Committee provides online technical assistance through its Blueprints to Access Series. You can view course objectives, retrieve syllabi, contact those who are teaching these classes at various law schools.

If you are teaching a class, let us know and we’ll share your information with others.

White Paper on Unbundling Available (PDF)
The Delivery Committee has issued a white paper examining rules that clarify the role of lawyers who assist self-represented litigants, entitled An Analysis of Rules that Enable Lawyers to Serve Pro Se Litigants. The paper discusses recently adopted provisions of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as several rules within the states' ethics codes and rules of procedure. Issues include document preparation, limited court appearances and withdrawal procedures and proper communications between lawyers and pro se litigants. The paper is designed to assist policy-makers assess the issues and includes a checklist of factors to consider.

Report on Unbundling Available
The ABA Litigation Section Modest Means Task Force has issued The Handbook on Limited Scope Legal Assistance. The handbook provides direction for both policy-makers and practitioners. It includes case studies of lawyers providing limited assistance as part of their practices, methods to maximize client services and an analysis of the applicable ethics issues. An extensive appendix includes state rules, checklists and sample client agreement forms.

The Report on the Hearing on Access to Justice is available (PDF)
The 2002 Hearing on Access to Justice included 15 speakers and resulted in strategies to overcome impediments to the barriers preventing people from obtaining legal services. The Report on the Hearing on Access to Justice (PowerPoint) is also available.

Web Site Guidelines Adopted
The Best Practice Guidelines for Legal Information Web Site Providers were adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in February 2003. The guidelines were promulgated as a joint project between the Delivery Committee and the Law Practice Management Section's eLawyering Task Force and co-sponsored by the Business Law Section and Consortium on Legal Services and the Public. The guidelines are intended to give direction to all entities that give legal information over the Internet.

Hotline Standards Available
For direction on the establishment and operations of hotlines, see the Standards for the Operation of a Telephone Hotline Providing Legal Advice and Information (PDF), adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in August 2001.