Access to Justice and Technology Ronald W. Staudt Class 5: The setting: Courts and Agencies February 26, 2003
Today Recap, Houseman & LSC site John M. Greacen, Self Represented Litigants and Court and Legal Services Responses to Their Needs: What We Know, (2nd draft, July 20, 2002). 45_selfrep_litigants&whatweknow.pdf 45_selfrep_litigants&whatweknow.pdf Reports of your visits to LAFMC, Cook County Advice Desk; CARPLS; Prairie State…reports 2/26
New Plans/ New Methods of Delivery Coordinated service delivery- one state system Coordinated Advice and Brief Services Accessible intake systems Gateways to Statewide Civil Legal Services with no LSC lawyers TIG grants and Internet tools…
Legal Services Corporation website LSC Receives $9.5 Million Boost Congress approved the first funding increase for the Legal Services Corporation in three years on Feb. 13 when it approved a $9.5 million boost to assist 26 states facing painful budget cutbacks as a result of 2000 U.S. Census data on shifting state poverty populations. The additional funding for legal aid was included as part of Congress’ $397.4 billion omnibus spending bill and brings LSC’s total FY03 appropriation to $338.8 million. The increase means that states, such as Michigan, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Illinois, slated to incur budget cutbacks will recover half of those losses stemming from census reallocations. [Press release]Press release
The setting: Graecen Impact of self represented litigants on court processes Court/Legal Services programs & advice/information issue 13 questions about effectiveness Cost effective wrt other options Just outcomes
The Setting Advice desk Cook County Forcible Call Chancery Divorce Building Court -
LSC Act of 1974: Five Fundamental Objectives 1. continuing the "present vital legal services program"; 2. ensuring "equal access" to our system of justice "for individuals who seek a redress of grievances"; 3. providing "high quality legal assistance to those who would be otherwise unable to afford adequate legal counsel"; 4. keeping the legal services program "free from the influence of or use by it of political pressures," 5. 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."
ABA Legal Needs Studies. s/home.html sclaid/legalneedstudy.pdf Will Hornsby Staff Counsel, ABA Division for Legal Services, sponsor of
Access to Justice book Charter: esign/charter.html esign/charter.html