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.
General/Unspecified Clients
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.
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.
State Legal Needs Studies Point to Justice Gap
The nine state legal needs studies released 2000-2005 indicate that the findings of the 1993 ABA study concerning the gap between the legal needs experienced by low-income people and the services they receive from private attorneys and legal aid programs remain valid today.
Accessing Justice in Contemporary America: The Community Needs and Services Survey
This is the first study to pair an investigation of the civil justice problems people experience with an investigation of the legal and non-legal resources available to assist them in handling those problems.
Representing Indigent Parties in Civil Cases: An Analysis of State Practices
This is a two-year study of state efforts to provide indigent representation services in civil cases finds that a lack of clear federal guidelines has resulted in variations in state provisions.
A Report on Pennsylvania’s Access to Justice Act FY 2004-2011
Enacted in 2002, Pennsylvania’s Access to Justice Act is funded by surcharges on legal document filing fees. During FY2004-FY2011, it helped fund work on 117,632 cases and directly benefited 231,735 people.
Civil Legal Aid Yields Economic Benefits to Clients and to the Commonwealth FY12
MLAC conducted a study on the economic benefits and impact of legal aid in Massachusetts during FY 2012. They found that the provision of legal assistance led to a positive total economic impact of approximately $48 million.
Annual Report of the Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services in New York
2012 annual report to the Chief Judge of New York State.
Legal Aid Research 