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)