SRLN 2024

This session will provide case studies in expanding capacity of self-help programs using technology versus traditional in-person delivery. Bet Tzedek Legal Services (Los Angeles) has designed a dedicated platform for a self-help clinic program providing assistance in conservatorship. Hear what they learned about how to get started, the effectiveness of plain language principles in content creations, and results of UX testing with community partners and clinic users. While many self-help programs are exploring tech solutions, Public Counsel ( Los Angeles) has intentionally maintained an in- person, low-tech service delivery model for pro per services  with complex  guardianship proceedings for minors.  Learn how they continue to meet the litigant demand with low, tech, in-person contact model. In contrast, the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance has operated court self-help centers since 2017 and offers a Remote Services Center, providing legal advice to self-represented litigants via phone and online chat M-F from 8:30-8:00PM. In 2023 they had 94,175 phone consults and 20,828 chat consults. Learn what they’ve done to increase efficiency while ensuring their assistance is helpful. They will discuss how to leverage technology to maintain a high volume, brief advice, remote services operation by sharing some successful tech-based innovations, including a homegrown data entry application, link manager, and text/email functionality.

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Struggling to find the right talent for your projects? Are your applicant pools limited, lacking the diversity and perspectives needed to drive meaningful change? Have you successfully tapped into other talent pipelines, beyond those focused on traditional legal roles? If these questions come up for you – join this discussion.
In this interactive session, we will focus on career pipelines into the civil justice sector and identify opportunities for strategies to rethink how we cultivate a diverse workforce. We’ll discuss how the sector can broaden its scope to include professionals from non-traditional backgrounds and vital perspectives, creating new pathways that strengthen inclusion and equity.

This session will challenge participants to reimagine what civil justice careers can look like and confront the need for the sector to do something different. The reality is that without intentional change, we will continue to see the same limited results. Join us as we explore how to reshape the workforce and foster the diverse talent needed to expand access to justice.

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Legal providers are notoriously gun-shy when it comes to data sharing, often leading to unnecessary silos, inefficiency, and a lack of holistic response for people in crisis. However, other fields have built safe, effective models for data sharing in highly sensitive areas the legal field can learn from. This panel will feature representatives from a homelessness service provider and a data systems technologist discussing their experience with HMIS (Homeless Management Information Services) and other data-sharing systems, and how it has strengthened coalition and client outcomes. This panel will discuss data privacy, data sharing agreements, technology infrastructure and systems to allow for safe and effective data sharing, and a discussion of the impact of data sharing across sectors.

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Human-centered design starts with empathy - understanding a challenge from the perspectives of those experiencing the challenge.  In this networking session, Innovation for Justice facilitators will lead conference attendees through a series of networking activities designed to build new connections and challenge your assumptions.

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Most often those provided legal services to the self-represented are part of larger, existing structures such as courts, libraries, and legal aid providers. A few have taken a different approach, separate nonprofit organizations. Three of those programs are the Timpanogos Legal Center, led by Susan Griffith serving the people of Utah, the Shriver Custody Project, led by Vanessa Smith serving the people of Oakland, California, and the Legal Assistance Center, led by Deborah Hughes, serving the people of Kent County, Michigan. Learn more about these programs, how they developed as nonprofits, and the challenges, pros, and cons of functioning as a nonprofit legal service provider.

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The pandemic saw the urgent creation of eviction mediation models throughout the united states. In the past two years, as resources and support for mediation programs waned, the staff and mediators who design and operate such efforts have had to find ways to inspire, introduce, and institutionalize successful mediation models. Join experienced court facilitators and their dispute system design consultant to learn more about the many ways mediation can support parties - both before and during their court proceedings – in jurisdictions throughout the country.

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Legal Hand, Inc. is expanding nationally and for a limited time is in a position to provide funding for costs associated with the first year of new Legal Hand Call-In Centers. At Legal Hand, trained community volunteers, who are not lawyers and college and law students provide free legal information, resources and referrals to help community members resolve issues that affect their lives, and prevent problems from turning into legal actions. When problems become legal actions, targeted legal information and assistance with court forms is provided. Assistance is delivered by telephone, email or text. Volunteers work remotely. There are no income or immigration status restrictions. Issues addressed include housing, family, immigration, domestic violence, and benefits. Panel participants will also discuss strategies for volunteer recruitment, effective community outreach, and sources of possible future funding.

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