Clients of seven legal hotlines located in Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland and Connecticut, were surveyed to determine if providing telephone legal advice helped with consumer and public benefits cases, and whether hotlines need more technical support.
Self-Help
The Hotline Outcomes Assessment Study, Phase III (2002)
The study generated representative samples of callers at five legal services hotlines in AR, CA, IL, MI and WA, conducted phone interviews with 2,034 callers three to six months later and involved experienced lawyers in the evaluation. This is a follow-on to an earlier study.
Recent Studies Compare Full Representation to Limited Assistance in Eviction Cases
In this article, John Pollock discusses three recent studies comparing full representation to limited assistance in the eviction context, and cautions there is still much to learn.
Hotline Outcomes Assessment Study – Phase I (1999)
Phase I of the Hotline Outcomes Assessment Study involved detailed qualitative interviews with managers and directors of 44 legal hotlines and an analysis of caseload patterns for 16 programs that appear to have relatively stable pre- and post-hotline environments.
Report on the Programs to Assist Self Represented Litigants of the State of Maryland
This report analyzes five programs that assist pro se litigants in Maryland. It finds that the programs are cost effective and efficient at serving self-represented litigants.
Georgia Senior Legal Hotline Outcomes Study
A total of 174 telephone surveys revealed that the Hotline’s self-help materials and advice can be used by seniors to achieve favorable outcomes in certain types of cases.
Clearing a Path to Justice: A Report of the Maryland Judiciary Work Group on Self-Representation in the Maryland Courts
This report outlines the work group’s efforts and study on self-represented litigants in Maryland. It provides an overview of the current efforts, initiatives, and recommendations on how to aid self-represented litigants, enhance the response of court staff, enhance the judicial response, support improvements in the legal services delivery system, and create an access to justice commission.
Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Emerging Consensus
Researchers at The Justice Lab at Georgetown Law Center surveyed the current national landscape of nonlawyer navigators. They identified and analyzed 23 programs in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The report is based on extensive outreach and interviews with more than 60 informants who created, oversee or manage nonlawyer navigator programs in court settings. The report describes program features and offers practical considerations for creating and implementing such programs.
New York State Courts Access to Justice Program: 2011 Report
In this report, the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program describes the court programs and initiatives; technology, social media, and publications; how they address the access to justice needs of a diverse population; and community outreach.
An Analysis of Rules that Enable Lawyers to Serve Self-Represented Litigants
This ABA analysis provides an overview the the rules authorizing limited scope representation, rules clarifying communications between counsel and parties, rules creating parameters for the lawyer’s role in document preparation, and rules governing the entry of appearances and withdrawals in court.
Legal Aid Research 