TECH TOOLS FOR PRO BONO ATTORNEYS Jessica Nault, Legal Project Manager Legal Services State Support Jennifer Singleton, Legal/Tech Project Manager Legal Services State Support October 20, 2014 Pro Bono Week
Agenda Minnesota Legal Advice Online Overview Client Experience Attorney Sign-up Taking Questions ProJusticeMN.org Pro Bono To Go Redesign Current resources/opportunities Legal resources to aid your pro bono work LawHelpMN.org Self-Help Center
Minnesota Legal Advice Online
Statewide Online Advice Building on experience with LION project LION operated by Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota since February 2011 MLAO launch in May 2014 500 questions posted 41 attorneys recruited
Statewide Online Advice Benefits of online advice for clients: Convenient remote access No need to use prepaid cell phone minutes No travel to a clinic or legal aid office Resources spread throughout state Use concentration of metro-area attorneys to meet statewide need Another source of possible legal advice
Statewide Online Advice Benefits of online advice for attorneys Advice-only Attorneys choose how much time they give to the website Not in real time Attorneys have flexibility to research issue, if needed Gives attorneys time to draft an answer Provides another pro bono opportunity for attorneys living outside the metro area CLE credit for pro bono work
Pro Bono to Go
Pro Bono to Go Mobile-optimized library of interview guides and settlement checklists, designed specifically for pro bono attorneys Interviews & checklists cover the most common areas of law pro bono attorneys encounter, such as eviction and divorce Mobile optimization allows for use where attorneys don t have access to a computer, such as in legal clinics or on the courthouse steps Pro Bono to Go is a collaboration of Legal Aid Services of Northeastern Minnesota, MSBA, Legal Services State Support, and the Volunteer Attorney Program
Pro Bono to Go Settlement Checklists Preview
ProJusticeMN Updates
The ProJusticeMN Redesign Make ProJusticeMN more effective for attorneys handling poverty law cases Streamline the way it looks and acts Make finding and using resources and information more efficient
CURRENT HOME PAGE
NEW HOME PAGE
CURRENT LAW LIBRARY MAIN PAGE
NEW LAW LIBRARY MAIN PAGE
LIBRARY FORMAT-CURRENT
LIBRARY FORMAT-NEW
Take Aways Trying to make it easier to navigate Need to hear from you Survey being sent out re: what you use, what you would like to see on ProJusticeMN.org Contact Jess or Jenny jnault@mnlegalservices.org jsingleton@mnlegalservices.org
ProJusticeMN.org Current Resources and Opportunities Pro Bono Directory Case Placement Tool Library
ProJusticeMN.org Resources/Opportunities Legal services providers and law-related organizations that need ongoing assistance Database searchable by: geography legal area client population Pro Bono Directory
ProJusticeMN.org Resources/Opportunities Case Placement Tool Individual cases from legal services providers unable to serve the applicants: basic information about legal issue contact information for staff who posted case Ability to review and accept cases Searchable by location and topic Membership required Can submit cases too
ProJusticeMN.org Resources/Opportunities Sign up to get immediate email alerts for new available cases Tailored to your topical and geographic preferences No commitment Email Case Alerts
ProJusticeMN.org Resources/Opportunities Poverty Law CLEs Live: In-Person & Webinar Dozens of in-person and online poverty law CLEs each year CLEs from State Support and other organizations Archived & Replays Includes videos or webcasts, PowerPoints, & more CLE Archive On-Demand CLEs
ProJusticeMN.org Resources/Opportunities ProJusticeMN Law Library General pro bono resources (e.g. CLE credit) Resources for poverty law areas Housing, consumer, gov t benefits, family, immigration, etc. Many types of resources Practice aids, forms, manuals, law summaries, etc. Monthly newsletter Membership required
ProJusticeMN.org Resources/Opportunities Two examples from the Law Library: Criminal Expungement Start-to-Finish detailed manual & automated pleadings creation tool (winner of national Pro Bono Innovation Award) Eviction Defense Manual comprehensive guide to eviction defense, covering both procedural and substantive aspects
Legal Resources Resources to Support Pro Bono: LawHelpMN.org Self-Help Center
Legal Resources: Fact Sheets & Booklets LawHelpMN.org Document Assembly FormHelper Legal Directory LiveHelp A Closer Look at...
Legal Resources: Fact Sheets & Booklets LawHelp now available in: English Spanish Hmong Somali Some available in these languages as well: Arabic, Amharic, Cambodian, Korean, Chinese, Laotian, Russian, Vietnamese, Oromo Topics Covered: Housing Consumer Law Family Government Benefits Seniors Immigration Employment Taxes Youth Rights A closer look at www.lawhelpmn.org/resource/legal-aid-fact-sheets
Legal Resources: FormHelper Turbo-Tax for legal forms online interviews generate the requested form For attorneys & clients most forms designed for clients, but some, like the Criminal Expungement tool, for attorney use A closer look at www.lawhelpmn.org/resource/form-helper
Legal Resources: Family Law Divorce Delegation of Parental Authority Harassment Restraining Order Health Care and Other Powers Health Care Directive Power of Attorney Power of Attorney Revocation Delegation of Parental Authority Abuse and Harassment Order for Protection Against Domestic Violence Harassment Restraining Order "Stop Contact" Letter to Creditors Debts, Fees and Deposits Answer a "Summons and Complaint" - Debt Lawsuits Security Deposit Demand - Letter to Landlord "Stop Contact" Letter to Creditors Court Fee Waiver, aka "In Forma Pauperis" Credit Report Request Housing and Foreclosure Foreclosure Sale Postponement Answer to Eviction Security Deposit Demand - Letter to Landlord Government Benefits Appeal a Decision for Denied, Reduced or Cut-Off Benefits
Legal Resources: Legal Directory Search by topic Search by geographic region Includes legal services offices, clinics, other service providers A closer look at www.lawhelpmn.org/find-legal-help
Legal Resources: Legal Clinic Calendar Calendars for different types of legal issues Some calendars pull information from all over the state Family Law Clinic Calendar Housing Clinic Calendar Immigration Clinic Calendar
Legal Resources: Self-Help Center Forms Court-approved forms Self-Help Center Packets are available for several issues, includes all the forms and instructions needed for a specific action Organized by topic I-CAN Automated tool for do-it-yourself divorce form creation Completed forms can be reviewed by Self-Help Center staff
Legal Resources: Self-Help Center Laws, rules & legal research Links to legal advice clinics Videos and tutorials for unrepresented litigants Resource attorneys A closer look at www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp Additional resource: Attorney General s Office www.ag.state.mn.us
Contact Information Jessica Nault Legal Project Manager Legal Services State Support jnault@mnlegalservices.org Jennifer Singleton Legal/Tech Project Manager Legal Services State Support jsingleton@mnlegalservices.org