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Self-Help CenterNAVIGATOR TRAINING
Navigator Training Roadmap
I. MLHP & Self-Help Centersa) Background & Historyb) SHC & Navigator Rolesc) Legal advice v. Legal information
II. MichiganLegalHelp.org a) Types of Content & Toolsb) Law Help Interactivec) Guide to Legal Helpd) LiveHelp Chat
Training Objectives
Learn about MLH History & Mission Role & Purpose of Self-Help Centers
Understand the Navigator’s role & responsibilities Difference between legal info & legal advice
Become familiar with MichiganLegalHelp.org 8 types of content
Referrals and other tools LiveHelp and the Guide to Legal Help
9.9 million
1,687,624
$20,420
Poverty in Michigan
(2013)
285 residents per private
attorney
13,179 residents per attorney
21,625 residents per atty
Private Attorneys Legal Services Lawyerserving up to 125% FPL
Legal Services Lawyerserving up to 200%FPL
Number of Michigan Residents per Lawyer (2012)
“While the economy has greatly increased the number of people who are eligible for civil legal aid, legal aid agencies must turn away many due to limited resources. I created the Solutions on Self-Help Task Force to fill the justice gap I see in our state."
Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly (2010)
Michigan Legal Help ProgramMichigan Legal Help Program (MLHP) is a non-profit organization
that empowers people to participate in the justice system.
Who can MLH help?
Many people who will represent themselves in civil legal matters!
But, not every civil legal matter is suited for self-representation.
Why MLH isn’t for everyone
• We don’t have everything.
• We will never have some things.
• We don’t have all the answers that people want.
• Not every litigant or every case is appropriate for self-representation.
Continuum of Services
Nothing
Self-Help Resources (MLH)
Self-Help Center Navigator Plus MLH
Free Legal Advice (from legal services or Pro Bono attorneys) plus MLH
Unbundled Legal Advice Plus MLH
Brief Assistance from Legal Services
Unbundled Assistance from Private Attorney
Full Representation by Attorney (legal services, pro bono, private bar)
Mediation, ODR
2018Toolkit Usage
Name Interviews Docs
Generated
% Interviews
--► Docs
Divorce with or without
Children77,913 37,518 58%
Food Stamp Calculator 21,095 11,588 56%
Child Custody Complaint 9,743 3,870 47%
Answer and Counterclaim
for Divorce7,902 4,151 61%
Application to Set Aside
Conviction4,636 693 18%
Fee Waiver 6,029 3,481 68%
Self-Help Centers: Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Calhoun, Cass, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Jackson, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oscoda, Saginaw, SW Detroit, Tuscola & Wayne
Partnering Legal Resource Centers:Berrien, Kent, Ottawa, & Washtenaw
Continued SHC Support
The Navigator Network is here to support you!
Navigator listserv keeps you up-to-date & in touch with fellow Navigators across the state
Monthly Webinar Series: Expungement, Mediation, E-Filing, Limited Scope
Representation, Eviction and more!
Custom Portal Page: Your very own section of MLH.org where you can post
announcements and center-specific informationCOUNTY NAME.michiganlegalhelp.org
Navigator page:michiganlegalhelp.org/navigator
The main source of Navigator resources
Navigator Page
michiganlegalhelp.org/navigator
MLH Self-Help Centers
A place where area residents can get help:
By asking a Navigator questions: “Can I? How do I? Where do I? What if??”
By using computers to access online legal self-help tools on MichiganLegalHelp.org:Complete & print court forms and checklists w/
filing instructions
Watch videos that explain legal processes
Self-Help Centers:Concerns for All Models
Space, Equipment & Training
Staffing & Sustainability
Institutional Relationships
Providing only legal info & referrals
SHC Models:COURT-BASED
Space: public, accessible, convenient
Staffing: depends on court collaboration and financial contribution to center, can also include volunteers, legal aid, and pro bono attorney participation
Institutional Relationships: naturally close relationships with clerks, judges, bar associations, etc.
SHC Models:LIBRARY-BASED
Space: public, accessible, trusted
Staffing: professional, public-facing, service-oriented, sensitive to confidentiality and accessibility issues, “happy to help”
Institutional Relationships: need to be built and maintained with court, FOC, DV agency and local bar association
SHC Models:COMMUNITY-BASED
Space (& location): already provide resources to the public / specific population. May be well-known to community; may not be close to court.
Staffing: 1) existing staff depends on org’s structure, priorities and funding 2) new staff / volunteers require funding
Institutional Relationships: in close proximity to other social service / community orgs and institutions, build relationships with court / bar
Court vs. Library Centers
SHC Request for Proposals (RFP)
o Description, Purpose, And Objectives Of The Michigan Legal Help Program
o Background Of Michigan Legal Help Program
o Self-help Center Site Specifications
o Roles Of Stakeholders
o Contributions From The Michigan Legal Help Program
o Format And Deadline For Proposals
o Proposal Evaluation Process And Project Timeline
SHC Operating Protocols
Scope of Services Information
Referrals
Visitor with Attorney
Ethical GuidelinesImpartiality and diligence
Respect and patience
Communication with officers of the court and represented litigants
The Navigator’s Role
A Navigator’s services always operate on two levels simultaneously:
personal
institutional
Both levels are equally important.
At the personal level
Navigators help people in need of legal assistance.
Provide access to legal information
Help visitors navigate the website
Help visitors find and complete court forms
Provide referrals
Listen to people’s concerns
At the institutional level
Provide the court with a helpful resource to which they can refer people
Aid in the efficiency of court operations
Increase access to justice
Contribute to a wider, more collaborative & cooperative legal community and court system
Legal Information v. Legal Advice
What is legal information?
A statement of the law – it is the same for everyone.
An explanation of options and procedures.
What is legal advice?
• Application of facts to the law.
• This may include a remark about the outcome of a situation or the details of someone’s problem.
• Statements that sound like: “in your case…,” “you should…,” “what would happen is…”
Legal Information – Yes!
You can and should give visitors information that:
Explains legal procedures or what to expect in court. Answer any questions asking "Can I?" or "How do I?" Answer questions about the completion of forms. Explain the meaning of terms and documents used in
the court process. Answer questions concerning deadlines or due dates. Explain a visitor’s options to him or her Say “It might be helpful” or “It could be useful”
Legal Advice – No!
You cannot & should not give information that:
You aren’t sure is correct or true.
Advises visitors to take a particular course of action.
Says what someone should do / needs to do. Instead, try to explain options. Or suggest that visitors ask a lawyer.
Gives one party information that you would be unwilling or unable to provide to other parties.
How do you know whenyou’re offsides?
Information
Advice
Guidance From CA Courts
Some Rules of Thumb
• Do not answer questions that involve the word “should.”
• Do not tell a visitor what you would do if you were in their shoes – do not give your opinion.
• Do not either encourage or discourage litigation – instead, encourage visitors to make their own decisions accessing the information on Michigan Legal Help.
• Do answer any questions that you can – especially those that involve the words “how do I” or “can I.”
• Do ask for help from a Supervisor.
• Do refer visitors to seek help from an attorney if they have questions that require legal advice!
Navigator Training Roadmap
II. MichiganLegalHelp.org
a) Types of Content & Tools
b) DIY Form Tools
c) Guide to Legal Help
d) LiveHelp Chat Service
Articles give general information about legal issues.
Do-It-Yourself Tools& Court Forms
Michigan Legal Help does not offer blank forms.
MLH created interactive tools that populate SCAO-approved court forms. LHI houses the tools and saves the forms & information if visitors make an account.
Common Questions give short answers to very specific questions.
You can see the answer to a question by clicking on it.
County-Specific Checklists
Checklists are printable step-by-step instructions that guide a visitor through handling a legal issue.
Selecting a County
Definitions
If a word or phrase is underlined, the definition can be viewed by clicking on it. The word “landlord” is
underlined.
The definition appears in an overlaid window when the word is clicked.
Videos explain common topics in a more visual way.
You can find all of our videos by clicking the “Video” link in the website’s footer.
Flow Charts: Divorce
Toolkits are groups of content that have
legal information about a particular issue.
Toolkits: Articles, Common Questions, Definitions, Flowcharts, Checklists & Forms
Searching for Content
Filtering Search Results
These results have been filtered by Content Type to show only Toolkits.
The results can also be filtered by legal issue.
Remember to select your county!
The checklists won’t appear at all unless you do.
Also, the referrals will not be filtered for your area until you do.
Some Reminders: MLH Forms & DIY Tools
All MLH Forms require an “interview”. Forms are stored on LawHelp Interactive. DIY Tools help visitors understand the form and
the process. You cannot print forms without completing the
interview. You may save forms if you create an account and
login. The interview is designed to identify cases that
are too complex, or users that are ineligible to file that particular form.
In those cases, the user will be redirected.
Multiple Forms
• Some DIY tools complete a full set of forms rather than just one.
• For example, the Divorce tool gives users the following documents:
Complaint; Summons; Record of Divorce; UCCJEA, IV-D;
Default Affidavit and Request; Judgment (with or without addenda); Uniform Child Support Order, Judgment Information Form; Proofs of Mailing (with checkboxes), Notice of Hearing; Fee Waiver (if eligible); Testimony for Final Hearing.
Getting to the Forms: A) From the Toolkit
Forms are stored on LHI. The site will open in a new tab or window.
Getting to the Forms: B) From a Content Area
These results have been filtered by Content Type to show only Forms.
If you already know which form you need, click on it in the list.
After reading a description of the form, you can click on the title. Then LHI will open in a new tab or window.
Starting an Interview on LHI
Interviews: A2J Interface
Interviews: Hotdocs Interface
Divorce Interview
Divorce Complaint
Judgment of
Divorce
DIY Tools & Other Forms: Letters
Some interviews produce form letters, for example, to a landlord.
All Forms
On Every Page:Referrals, LiveHelp &
The Guide
The Guide to Legal Help
The Guide to Legal Help directs all visitors to the most appropriate resources available to them throughout the state, from MLH content to external resources, including tailored lawyer referrals. The system uses advanced logic trees to help
identify a visitor’s legal problem and what services they qualify for, then directs the user to the most appropriate resources to resolve their problem, given what is
available in the community.
Guide to Legal Help
What is LiveHelp?
LiveHelp is a chat feature that helps visitors to michiganlegalhelp.org find the info they need.
LiveHelp Agents facilitate access to legal info. They assist visitors in:
navigating the site
understanding court procedures
using LawHelp Interactive to
prepare court forms
MLH: Helping to Navigate
Thank you
Ramzi BadwiProgram and Outreach Coordinator,Michigan Legal Help Program
(734) 714-3243