BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC Tina Rasnow Senior Attorney/Coordinator, Self-Help Legal Access Center Ventura County Superior Court

What is community? Familes Schools Environment Governmental Institutions Businesses Faith Based Institutions Organizations Courts

Role of the Courts in a Community Resolve Disputes Dispense Justice Maintain Social Order Preserve Constitutional Freedoms Uphold Rule of Law

We are the gatekeepers to justice Without access to the courts there can be no justice Without justice there can be no peace Those of us who work in the justice system are its gatekeepers

Building Partnerships

Recognizing Diverse Stakeholders Individuals Businesses Non-profit agencies Government Educators Lawyers

Recognizing Diverse Stakeholders Individuals Age Gender Race, Ethnicity, Nationality Economic Disability Sexual Orientation Language

Recognizing Diverse Stakeholders How Individuals Use the Court Witnesses Civil Litigants Representatives Jurors Defendants Petitioners

Understanding Core Values of Stakeholders Justice Fairness Respect

Addressing Stakeholder Needs Understanding Complex Laws and Procedures Accessing Courts and Related Services Overcoming Language, Literacy and Cultural Barriers Overcoming Economic Barriers

Educating About Role of Courts Outreach to Schools Juror Education Presentations to Service Clubs and Business Organizations Columns in Local Papers Local Cable Programming Radio Programs Court Tour/Docent Programs

Communicating With Community Organizations Service Organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, etc. Bar Associations Legal Secretary and Legal Assistant Organizations Non-profit Organizations Government Agencies

Anticipating Future Trends Economic Ethnic, Cultural, Demographic Environmental Social Political

Thinking Outside the Box Community Collaboration to Promote Access to Justice

Holistic Law and Therapeutic or Restorative Justice Self-Help Centers Homeless Courts Youth Courts Domestic Violence Courts Drug Courts Mental Health Courts

What is Possible? Budget Self-Help Centers Mobile Center Computer Systems No or Little Money Form Motions Step-by-step Instructions Volunteers

Our Court is Here for the People we Serve Ventura Superior Court Self-Help Programs

Family Law Pro Per Clinic Family Law Self-Help Centers

Self-Help Legal Access Center January 1998

Oxnard Self-Help Legal Access Center De cember 1998

Mobile Self-Help Center November 1999

THE PLANNING PROCESS Funding Space Staffing Equipment Training Evaluation

GOING OFF SITE Communities Off-site centers/mobile centers Scheduling Publicity

Types of Matters Handled in the SHLA Centers Landlord/Tenant (especially eviction defense) Guardianship of the person Contract disputes Consumer issues Personal Injury Traffic infractions Small claims Neighbor disputes Step-parent adoptions Name changes Real estate disputes Conservatorship of the person

Materials Available to Assist the Public Step-by-step instruction guides Nolo Press Books Codes and legal guidebooks Fill-in-the-blank forms for motions commonly brought by pro per litigants Internet access Videos on different legal subjects Referrals to other resources Staff to assist with information and procedural questions

Training Staff Being responsive to the public Giving information vs. advice

Basic Rules for Working in the SHLA Center Do not solicit business from people using the SHLA Center. Make sure everyone signs an intake form before you assist them. Request each person who has received help to complete an evaluation form.

Basic Rules (cont.) Do not make estimates about the outcome of motions or other matters pending before the court. Do not gossip or discuss what you may know about a person or case with people using the SHLA Center. Do not be afraid to tell people you do not know the answer.

Basic Rules (cont.) Make sure you are referring the person to the correct place before sending him or her there. The SHLA Center works on a “drop- in basis,” and does not provide information by telephone. Dress appropriately. Treat everyone with respect.

Basic Rules (cont.) Let us know when you are available and unavailable to work. Do not allow food or drink in the SHLA Center. Keep an eye on the materials so as to minimize theft. Ask people to control their children or when possible, direct them to the Children’s Waiting Room.

WHY COLLABORATATIONS ARE IMPORTANT The court does not have the resources to meet the need for legal information and assistance Other agencies may have more knowledge about issues unique to specific communities Courts may have difficulty communicating information to diverse communities

WHY COLLABORATIONS ARE IMPORTANT (2) Strong court/community ties help improve public access to the courts Strong court/community ties help public perception of the courts

COLLABORATIONS Local bar associations State bar association Law schools Community colleges Law library Public libraries Local cable TV stations Court interpreters Legal secretaries, paralegals, and legal assistant professional organizations District Attorney –Consumer Fraud –Small Claims –Victim Services

COLLABORATIONS (Cont.) Advocates for the Disabled Department of Consumer Affairs Public Interest Clearing House and related Internet Sites Non-profit Organizations Governmental Agencies Local Newspapers Radio Shows Service Organizations

TARGETED POPULATIONS Who are the users? What are their needs? What types of legal problems and non-legal problems are presented?

Areas of Greatest Demand (4 yrs) Family Law 34,619 Unlawful Detainer 2,832 Small Claims 1,541 Guardianship 1,257 Contract Dispute 1,014 Traffic Infractions 918 Consumer 769 Change of Name 510

Areas of Greatest Demand (cont.) Personal Injury583 Real Estate Dispute500 Civil Harassment429 Conservatorship351 Adoption303 Labor/Employment264 Neighbor Dispute113

Number of Volunteer Hours in Self-Help Programs (2 yrs.)* Attorneys 4,212 Law and paralegal students6,605 Legal secretaries and legal assistants 416 Other community volunteers2,808 Total volunteer hours 14,041 *The number of volunteer hours is an approximation because until late 2000, not all self-help centers logged in volunteer hours

LESSONS LEARNED What has worked? What hasn’t worked? What is working best?

BENEFITS Increased access Trust and confidence Efficiencies Customer satisfaction

Never Be Afraid to Ask, Because if You Don’t Ask, the Answer is Always “No.”