BUILDING COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO BETTER PARTNERSHIPS TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLICSERVE THE PUBLIC

Tina RasnowSenior Attorney/Coordinator,

Self-Help Legal Access Center

Ventura County Superior Court

What is community?What is community?

Familes Schools Environment Governmental

Institutions Businesses Faith Based

Institutions Organizations Courts

Role of the Courts in a Role of the Courts in a CommunityCommunity

Resolve Disputes Dispense Justice Maintain Social

Order Preserve

Constitutional Freedoms

Uphold Rule of Law

We are the gatekeepers to justiceWe are the gatekeepers to justice

Without access to the courts there can be no justice

Without justice there can be no peace

Those of us who work in the justice system are its gatekeepers

Building PartnershipsBuilding Partnerships

RecognizingDiverseStakeholders

UnderstandingCore Values ofStakeholders

AddressingStakeholderNeeds

EducatingAbout Role ofCourts

Communicatingwith CommunityOrganizations

AnticipatingFutureTrends

Recognizing Diverse StakeholdersRecognizing Diverse Stakeholders

IndividualsBusinessesNon-profit agenciesGovernmentEducatorsLawyers

Recognizing Diverse StakeholdersRecognizing Diverse StakeholdersIndividualsIndividuals

AgeGenderRace, Ethnicity, NationalityEconomicDisabilitySexual OrientationLanguage

Recognizing Diverse StakeholdersRecognizing Diverse StakeholdersHow Individuals Use the CourtHow Individuals Use the Court

WitnessesCivil LitigantsRepresentativesJurorsDefendantsPetitioners

Understanding Core Values of Understanding Core Values of StakeholdersStakeholdersJusticeFairnessRespect

Addressing Stakeholder NeedsAddressing Stakeholder Needs

Understanding Complex Laws and Procedures

Accessing Courts and Related Services

Overcoming Language, Literacy and Cultural Barriers

Overcoming Economic Barriers

Educating About Role of CourtsEducating About Role of Courts

Outreach to SchoolsJuror EducationPresentations to Service Clubs and

Business Organizations Columns in Local PapersLocal Cable ProgrammingRadio ProgramsCourt Tour/Docent Programs

Communicating With Communicating With Community OrganizationsCommunity OrganizationsService Organizations such as

Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, etc.Bar AssociationsLegal Secretary and Legal Assistant

OrganizationsNon-profit OrganizationsGovernment Agencies

Anticipating Future TrendsAnticipating Future Trends

EconomicEthnic, Cultural, DemographicEnvironmentalSocialPolitical

Thinking Outside the BoxThinking Outside the Box

Community Collaboration to Promote Access to Justice

Holistic Law and Therapeutic or Holistic Law and Therapeutic or Restorative JusticeRestorative Justice

Self-Help CentersHomeless CourtsYouth CourtsDomestic Violence CourtsDrug CourtsMental Health Courts

What is Possible?What is Possible?

Budget

Self-Help Centers Mobile Center Computer Systems

No or Little Money

Form Motions Step-by-step

Instructions Volunteers

Our Court is Herefor the People we Serve

Ventura Superior CourtVentura Superior CourtSelf-Help ProgramsSelf-Help Programs

Family Law Pro Per Clinic - 1996Family Law Pro Per Clinic - 1996Family Law Self-Help Centers - Family Law Self-Help Centers - 19971997

Self-Help Legal Access CenterSelf-Help Legal Access CenterJanuary 1998January 1998

Oxnard Self-Help Legal Access Oxnard Self-Help Legal Access Center DeCenter December 1998cember 1998

Mobile Self-Help CenterMobile Self-Help CenterNovember 1999November 1999

THE PLANNING PROCESSTHE PLANNING PROCESS

Funding Space Staffing Equipment Training Evaluation

GOING OFF SITEGOING OFF SITE

Communities

Off-site centers/mobile centers

Scheduling

Publicity

Types of Matters Handled in the Types of Matters Handled in the SHLA CentersSHLA Centers Landlord/Tenant

(especially eviction defense)

Guardianship of the person

Contract disputes Consumer issues Personal Injury Traffic infractions

Small claims Neighbor disputes Step-parent

adoptions Name changes Real estate

disputes Conservatorship of

the person

Materials Available to Assist the Materials Available to Assist the PublicPublic Step-by-step

instruction guides Nolo Press Books Codes and legal

guidebooks Fill-in-the-blank

forms for motions commonly brought by pro per litigants

Internet access Videos on different

legal subjects Referrals to other

resources Staff to assist with

information and procedural questions

Training StaffTraining Staff

Being responsive to the publicGiving information vs. advice

Basic Rules for Working in the Basic Rules for Working in the SHLA CenterSHLA CenterDo not solicit business from people

using the SHLA Center. Make sure everyone signs an intake

form before you assist them. Request each person who has

received help to complete an evaluation form.

Basic Rules (cont.)Basic Rules (cont.)

Do not make estimates about the outcome of motions or other matters pending before the court.

Do not gossip or discuss what you may know about a person or case with people using the SHLA Center.

Do not be afraid to tell people you do not know the answer.

Basic Rules (cont.)Basic Rules (cont.)

Make sure you are referring the person to the correct place before sending him or her there.

The SHLA Center works on a “drop-in basis,” and does not provide information by telephone.

Dress appropriately. Treat everyone with respect.

Basic Rules (cont.)Basic Rules (cont.)

Let us know when you are available and unavailable to work.

Do not allow food or drink in the SHLA Center.

Keep an eye on the materials so as to minimize theft.

Ask people to control their children or when possible, direct them to the Children’s Waiting Room.

WHY COLLABORATATIONS WHY COLLABORATATIONS ARE IMPORTANTARE IMPORTANT

The court does not have the resources to meet the need for legal information and assistance

Other agencies may have more knowledge about issues unique to specific communities

Courts may have difficulty communicating information to diverse communities

WHY COLLABORATIONS ARE WHY COLLABORATIONS ARE IMPORTANT (2)IMPORTANT (2)

Strong court/community ties help improve public access to the courts

Strong court/community ties help public perception of the courts

COLLABORATIONSCOLLABORATIONS

Local bar associations State bar association Law schools Community colleges Law library Public libraries Local cable TV

stations Court interpreters

Legal secretaries, paralegals, and legal assistant professional organizations

District Attorney– Consumer Fraud– Small Claims– Victim Services

COLLABORATIONS (Cont.)COLLABORATIONS (Cont.)

Advocates for the Disabled

Department of Consumer Affairs

Public Interest Clearing House and related Internet Sites

Non-profit Organizations

Governmental Agencies

Local Newspapers Radio Shows Service

Organizations

TARGETED POPULATIONSTARGETED POPULATIONS

Who are the users?

What are their needs?

What types of legal problems and non-legal problems are presented?

Areas of Greatest Demand (4 yrs)Areas of Greatest Demand (4 yrs)

Family Law 34,619Unlawful Detainer 2,832Small Claims 1,541Guardianship 1,257Contract Dispute 1,014Traffic Infractions 918Consumer 769Change of Name 510

Areas of Greatest Demand (cont.)Areas of Greatest Demand (cont.)

Personal Injury 583Real Estate Dispute 500Civil Harassment 429Conservatorship 351Adoption 303Labor/Employment 264Neighbor Dispute 113

Number of Volunteer Hours in Number of Volunteer Hours in Self-Help Programs (2 yrs.)*Self-Help Programs (2 yrs.)*

Attorneys 4,212Law and paralegal students 6,605Legal secretaries and legal assistants

416Other community volunteers 2,808Total volunteer hours 14,041 *The number of volunteer hours is an approximation because

until late 2000, not all self-help centers logged in volunteer hours

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

What has worked?

What hasn’t worked?

What is working best?

BENEFITSBENEFITS

Increased access

Trust and confidence

Efficiencies

Customer satisfaction

Never Be Afraid to Ask, Because Never Be Afraid to Ask, Because if You Don’t Ask, the Answer is if You Don’t Ask, the Answer is Always “No.”Always “No.”