Assisting Self-Represented Litigants:
Recent Technological Applications
Conference of Chief Justices andConference of State Court Administrators
July 31, 2002Rockport, Maine
Self Help Web PagesSelf Help Web Pages
Self Help Web PagesSelf Help Web Pages
On-line FormsDownloadablePrintable
PDFWordWordPerfect.html
California Self-Help Center California Self-Help Center
Over 900 web pages of information and materials
Organized topically by area of law
Written in “plain English”
Many materials available in other languages (Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese)
Statewide Self-Help Websites
Statewide Self-Help WebsitesFunded by LSC Technology
Innovations Grants (TIG)Available or under
development in 40+ statesSimilar use of formats and
iconsRequires programs to
establish a stakeholder committee to determine substantive content
Permits content development from multiple sources
Pine Tree Legal Assistance Website
Pine Tree Legal Assistance Website
Interactive forms: family law, protection from abuse, protection from harassment, child support, small claims
Interactive Document Assembly
Interactive Document Assembly
Features of the Utah Online Court Assistance Program
Divorce and landlord/tenant applications
Progress tracking ability
Ability to save data online in password protected format
In development: lawyer review of documents
Other sitesExpand on case types
Expand on range of documents
LSC is adding this technology to all of its statewide websites
Multiple Media ApproachesMultiple Media ApproachesFeatures
Interactive touch-screen kiosk and Internet access
Audio and video components
Password protectionTelephone connection to
Help DeskApplications for child
support enforcement, paternity, small claims, DV, eviction, wage assignment, and fee waivers
I-CAN!Developed by Legal Aid Society of Orange
County (CA)Collaborative funding by California AOC,
LSC, and other state and local sources
Self-Assessment ToolsSelf-Assessment Tools Help litigants determine the
advisability of proceeding without a lawyer
Focus onKnowledge about specific
issues or problems that add complexity to otherwise routine cases
Personality traits, motivation, organizational skills, knowledge of basic legal concepts
Scoring measures indicate likelihood of success as a self-represented litigant
Links to legal referral services
Future Directions?Future Directions?
Internet prototype for conceptual design of a litigant-friendly court system
Expands document assembly applications with decision support tools
Features password protected, online case organization component
Incorporates negotiation skills training and online ADR
Access to Justice (A2J) System
Self-Help PractitionersResource Center
Self-Help PractitionersResource Center
Online clearinghouse of information on program design, implementation and operation
Current NewsUpcoming EventsInternet LibraryListserv
Collaborative effortAJS, California AOC, NCSC,
Probono.net, OSI, SJI, Zorza Associates