Access to Justice and Technology Ronald W. Staudt Class 6: The setting: Courts and Agencies October 7, 2004
Today John M. Greacen, Self Represented Litigants and Court and Legal Services Responses to Their Needs: What We Know, (2nd draft, July 20, 2002). http://www.lri.lsc.gov/abstracts/020045/020045_selfrep_litigants&whatweknow.pdf Reports of your visits to Cook County Advice Desk; Pro Se Court; Landlord Tenant Call in the Daley Center, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
The setting: Graecen Studies showing the number of self represented litigants. By State Phoenix Florida Others Cook County Divorces By type of case Criminal v. Civil Limited v. General Jurisdiction Family Law By Demographics Income Age Race
The setting: Graecen Studies showing impact of self representation on court process and outcome Length of trial or other proceedings Outcome Other demands of justice system
The setting: Graecen Court/Legal Services programs & advice/information issue 13 questions about effectiveness from both client and court perspective Service, satisfaction, education, expectations, actions, outcomes Cost effective wrt other options Just outcomes
The Setting Advice desk & Self Help Web Desk Cook County Forcible Call Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Pro Se Court
LSC Act of 1974: Five Fundamental Objectives continuing the "present vital legal services program"; ensuring "equal access" to our system of justice "for individuals who seek a redress of grievances"; providing "high quality legal assistance to those who would be otherwise unable to afford adequate legal counsel"; keeping the legal services program "free from the influence of or use by it of political pressures," assuring that "attorneys providing legal assistance ... have full freedom to protect the best interests of their clients in keeping with the [ethics codes] ... and the high standards of the legal profession."
Access to Justice book www.judgelink.org/a2j Charter: http://www.judgelink.org/a2j/system_design/charter.cfm