The impact of representation for parties in mediation was largely indeterminate. Wissler suggests more research with random assignment of lawyers. She notes that lawyers may have become more adept at handling mediation over the last few years, since most of the studies reviewed in this article.
Audience
Improving Civil Justice in Rural America
The California Commission on Access to Justice analyzes the quality and access to civil justice in rural California, discussing the legal needs, the profile of rural legal assistance, how the courts, self-help centers, and other community organizations can be involved, and how the legal aid community can engage with pro bono. Among other findings, the study finds that housing, labor violations, domestic violence, access to health care and services, legal problems facing the elderly and persons with disabilities, language assistance, and tribal-related issues were the top legal needs of rural Californians.
Bridging the Gap: Wisconsin’s Unmet Legal Needs
This final report by the Access to Justice Study Committee of the State Bar of Wisconsin found that Wisconsin trails neighboring states in tackling the large Justice Gap.
Medical-Legal Partnership: Impact on Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
This study looked at how legal interventions affected pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. The researchers find that of the 106 cases opened under the MLP partnership resulted in 99 closed cases with 21 of them “resulting in a measurable gain of benefits.”
Medical-Legal Partnership Impact on Parents’ Perceived Stress: A Pilot Study
This study analyzed patient stress before and after receiving a legal intervention through an MLP. The researchers find that patient stress decreased after receiving legal services.
Framing Legal Care as Health Care
This guide helps legal service providers in MLPs to reframe civil legal needs as social determinants of health and better message their work to help with health care audiences. This guide shows how civil legal aid versus health care talk about their mission, the description of impact, and description of work and where they can partner and develop a common language for talking about their work.
Economic Self-Sufficiency among Women Who Experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Received Civil Legal Services
This study, funded by a DOJ award, found that for women who were experiencing intimate partner violence (also called domestic violence) and who received civil legal services for assistance in obtaining a civil protective order or assisting with a family law problem, saw increases in monthly income increase and number of assistance resources decrease. The study finds that “civil legal services are a critical component of a community coordinated response to IPV” (abstract).
Psychological Well-Being Among Women Who Experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Received Civil Legal Services
This study uses Sullivan’s Social and Emotional Well-Being Framework to see why and how women who experienced intimate partner violence (or domestic violence) and received civil legal services experienced improvements in psychological well-being. Women reported a decrease in depressive and PTSD symptoms over one year after receiving civil legal services.
Poverty, the Great Unequalizer: Improving the Delivery System for Civil Legal Aid
This article presents an overview of civil legal aid and three reforms to improve delivery of services: 1) comprehensive triage system; 2) using business process improvements; and 3) creating legal information exchange organizations.
The Social, Geographic, and Organizational Determinants of Access to Civil Legal Aid Services: An Argument for an Integrated Access to Justice Model
This article proposes an accessibility model that matches supply and demand for civil legal services spatially.
Legal Aid Research 