Crisis Intervention, Group 1

Total

Court

Lawyer

Other

Create a seamless web of resources:

211 & education about resources

13

2

4

7

Provide web-based resources

3

0

2

1

Communication between providers

2

0

2

0

Courthouse electronic portal/law libraries

3

1

1

1

Relationship building between providers

2

0

2

0

Build in mechanisms for collaboration

8

0

4

4

DV projects should have access to lawyers

1

0

1

0

Identify areas for early intervention programs

1

0

1

0

Create collaborations that allow professionals to do what they're trained to do

2

0

2

0

Create a physical facility for collaborations

3

0

3

0

Collaborate in seminar setting: LS/HS

1

0

1

0

Publish newsletter w/articles about what organizations are doing

1

0

1

0

Resources:

Prioritize existing resource

2

0

1

1

Develop aggressive, deliberate pr campaign about the worth of all humans

5

0

5

0

Identify presently existing but untapped resources

1

0

1

0

Expand DV courts thruout State (and models like)

11

2

9

0

Greater use of volunteers

1

0

1

0

Consumer Friendly, Group 2

Access to interpreters

10

3

3

5

Safety in courthouses

2

1

1

0

Educate community & legal providers about resources

5

1

2

2

Understand assumptions people come into legal system with and address

2

0

1

1

Provide reasonable accommodations to disabled

2

1

1

0

"Pep rally" for self-empowerment, help people take care of things themselves

1

0

1

0

Continue to clarify language in court forms

0

0

0

0

Reduce fees (or eliminate)

0

0

0

0

Provide more ADR opportunities

15

3

8

4

Courts develop resource center approach to consumers; hotline/website

3

2

1

0

Courthouse projects: lawyer in every courthouse to provide information on process & options; help with forms

6

0

4

2

Reduce access problems particularly at hearing

0

0

0

0

Need people to people service

0

0

0

0

Train people to work w/attorneys in courthouse projects

1

0

1

0

Working well: Pine Tree's web site, HelpMELaw

1

0

1

0

Look for information from other states: Maryland and John Tull

0

0

0

0

Physical access to courthouse: Alpha One has done some assessments

1

0

1

0

Disability etiquette: training/education for judges/court staff

2

0

1

1

Diversity etiquette

3

0

0

3

Information sharing & opportunities for outreach

0

0

0

0

Education/Information on resources for juveniles

1

0

1

0

Treat juvenile issues holistically

8

2

5

1

Insurance

0

0

0

0

Education on so many levels: internet, audio, video, churches/temples/mosques, youth & seniors

21

3

13

5

Fund the court system

20

4

14

2

"Pep rally" for courts and bar

0

0

0

0

De-emphasize role big $$ and lawyers play: comes from media; comes from lawyers

1

0

1

0

Collaborate w/institutions to facilitate outreach & education

6

0

2

4

Compile all of the resources for all ways of problem solving & make available to all intake providers

0

0

0

0

Works great Maine Consumer Law Guide

1

0

0

1

Legal advocates in different contexts, I.e. in health care facility, work w/other professionals; Kids Law Project

22

2

13

7

Provide greater access to GALS

2

0

2

0

Expand case management to other areas of law

3

1

2

0

"No wrong door" project through DHHS & Muskie School: partner w/them

0

0

0

0

Address literacy concerns w/accessing legal materials, esp. for self-help

1

0

1

0

211 line available for health/legal social serves; develop equivalent for legal profession, direct where to go

2

0

2

0

Talk to Legislature & gov. @ funding: advocate for Judicial Branch & Legal Services as funding priorities

20

4

9

7

Look at funding from systemic point of view

4

0

1

3

Promoting Innovation, Group 3

Outreach to faith communities to do cross training

5

1

1

3

Rapport building & capacity building within diverse communities to reduce barriers

12

0

3

9

Target first responders & social workers & faith leaders for education

5

1

1

3

Reinvigorate county bar associations

0

0

0

0

Loan forgiveness program to put lawyers in rural areas

20

2

12

6

Statewide for-profit legal clinic system

1

0

0

0

Voucher system

0

0

0

0

Law Mobile: rural

0

0

0

0

Take justice out to people in their environments

9

0

2

7

Community dispute resolution center

2

0

0

2

Shifting public thought about value of a win

0

0

0

0

Public service advertising to educate public

2

0

1

1

Use of public access channels to educate public

2

0

2

0

Develop a pool of lay or community educators/leaders in different communities

4

0

0

4

Make legislative law library accessible -- web access

0

0

0

0

Legal form organization

0

0

0

0

Expansion of small claims court

0

0

0

0

How to build advocate pool; first agree on what an advocate is, if not a lawyer (e.g. CASA)

1

0

0

1

Create a system of trained para-professionals

6

1

1

4

"Boundary spanners"

0

0

0

0

Adopt a family court model that is more like drug court

3

0

2

1

Mandate continuing education courses on diversity issues

15

2

7

6

Mandate pro-bono work

0

0

0

0

Develop formal feedback group from legal community to areas where litigation is being generated

1

0

1

0

Preventive lawyering

1

0

0

1

Public access rule book in every courthouse

0

0

0

0

Resource & answer book for legal services provider/counter to 211

5

0

1

4

Provide exemption from UPL laws for LRIS; "bless" other methods of providing legal advice

3

0

3

0

Utilize law schools for experimentation & innovative ideas/projects

11

2

9

0

Pro bono services at law libraries

1

0

0

1

Increase opportunities for conversation & collaboration between legal system & comty sevice providers

10

1

4

5

Annual community meetings to continue dialogue

Pro Se, Group 4

Evaluate where pro se is/is not appropriate (case types, types of litigants & their capacities

1

0

1

0

Mandatory first appearance -- review case, mediation options, explain system. (NH pilot project in Family Court)

1

1

0

0

Group outreach to non-English speakers information about rights, responsibilities

0

0

0

0

"Advocacy Institute" : train CAP agencies, Head Start, family agencies about resources -- potential lay advocates -- resolve issues before they become legal problems

26

0

11

15

CLE around poverty issues & where unbundling might work & also skills to provide unbundled services pro bono to (CLEs e.g. Women Lawyers Lawyer of Day for PFAs)

4

2

2

0

Educate pro ses about what to expect,services, what they can gain, problems they will face

9

1

5

3

Screening process at courthouse and/or earlier

0

0

0

0

Clarify the distinction between information & advice. Info-only lawyers & clerks & others can be very helpful w/o giving advice

0

0

0

0

Eliminate Rules of Evidence where both parties are pro se; allow judge to be more aggressive in seeking facts [chart notes that "many people strongly against"]

1

1

0

0

Rule: 2 lawyers or no lawyer [chart notes that "many people strongly against"]

0

0

0

0

Written protocols for judges handling pro se cases or training

0

0

0

0

Best practices & education for admin agencies & move over to court

1

1

0

0

Plain English forms, in proceedings, laws

4

0

3

1

Self help center: info vide[sic] document assembly, lawyers who work "by the minute" on an unbundled way

5

3

1

1

Establish time limits for different types of cases

0

0

0

0

Evaluate whether: pro se as it currently works is working: how many people going pro se; how well do they need [sic]; how can we address problem; cost of addressing problem

2

1

1

0

Making Institutional Changes to Enhance Access to Justice, Group 5

Increase of non-lawyer participation properly trained & educated can be utilized

16

3

7

6

Goal II Mandate a set number of pro bono legal work

0

0

0

0

Challenge the big firms in Maine to empower their associates to do more pro bono work

0

0

0

0

Working with other licensed professional w/in the state to provide pro bono services

6

1

4

1

Create a multi-disciplinary court annexed team (model in Maine Drug Court)

7

0

5

2

Utilizing & expanding on the "211" system to increase access to centralized intake system supported by professionally trained staff

2

0

1

1

Educational curriculum requirement; traveling adult "know your rights" clinic

2

0

1

1

Additional rule changes to encourage lawyer participation to sustain outreach

0

0

0

0

Explaining legal rights in plain language & culturally appropriate places

6

0

4

2

Expand concept of court appointed counsel in civil cases & misdemeanor criminal cases

2

0

2

0

Increase C4 funding -- lobbying dollars, persuade professional lobbyists to take pro bono cases

0

0

0

0

Remove restrictions from legal services organizations related to lobbying & other legal advocacy

14

1

9

4

Develop better/more materials on legal matters/process

2

0

1

1

Non-adversarial approach to resolving conflict

1

0

1

0

Two tiered resolution process: 1) non-adversarial, if it doesn't work then 2) adversarial

6

0

3

3

Find way to level playing field, take away imbalance of power

0

0

0

0

Reallocate expenses: the process & procedure IS THE BARRIER!

0

0

0

0

Goal = avoid litigation

0

0

0

0

Court appointed lawyer for all civil cases (both Grp 5s)

20

4

13

3

Voucher system to replace court appointed attorneys (choice of lawyer) (Appeared in both Group 5s)

22

2

12

8

Make ADA access a mainstream priority thru funding/required upgrades (physical access), language issues (improve accessible communications)

5

0

2

3

Education & training to overcome bias & inequities & show value of each individual: disability,$, poverty, language diversity, cultural differences. Both Grp 5s

25

0

11

14

Identify root causes of bias: intentional vs. unintentional bias discuss ways to eliminate bias, train staff

0

0

0

0

Economic issues: re-evaluate priorities: raise wages for legal services attorneys & social worker agency staff; tax benefits for pro bono work (legal firms); change the culture statewide, region wide & nationwide re: pay rates for legal services organizations

16

1

13

2

Better identify & agree how to commit limited resources

0

0

0

0

More funding from state for assisting low income litigants

2

0

2

0

Develop a holistic approach to helping litigants/low income/users of legal court system [sic]

3

0

2

1

Remove dehumanization feel of courts

0

0

0

0

Create an effective pre-hearing process

0

0

0

0

Evaluate administrative hearing process

0

0

0

0

Put resources into: ombudsman, mediation, arbitration

12

3

5

4

Resolve matters without hearing/litigation * make this a priority in our system!!!: more personal system, less expensive, quicker resolution, less wait time

1

0

1

0

Remove perception that administrative process/hearings are part of state gov't and therefore a conflict, biased

0

0

0

0

Networking & strategizing w/other "networks" law schools/service organizations

3

0

0

3

Advanced legal representation when case is more advanced. (Appeared in both Group 5s)

0

0

2

0

Incentives to get/keep pro bono lawyers & p.b. work

20

0

15

5

Communication btwn pvt bar & VLP to know who has time/expertise to handle cases

Move toward non-litigation resolutions

11

0

6

5

Where & who to train [re diversity]: law schools, lawyers, court staff, service providers

1

0

0

1

Pro bono requirements?

0

0

0

0

Value & respect ALL people in system: litigants, attorneys, judiciary, agency representatives

1

0

1

0

Change expectations of litigants & attorneys: of outcome, of attorneys, of clients

3

0

2

1

Sustaining and Assuring Quality: Group 6

Independent evaluation of services by diverse team

5

1

4

0

Prior established standards to govern provision of legal systems (providers, cts & those who touch the justice system)

0

0

0

0

Need system to measure performance agst standards

3

1

1

1

Same standards must apply to welfare offices, state agencies

0

0

0

0

Need to train/educate providers & other system participants in quality standards (e.g. law practice course to make it practical)

0

0

0

0

Measure the efficiency of the service provided

18

4

9

5

Understand better all the steps in certain legal processes so to focus effort on quality

0

0

0

0

Look at outputs, as well as outcomes

1

1

0

0

Measure cases that don't get to court/appeals/tribunal for state agency & why (e.g. is it because of status of litigant

5

0

5

0

Measure complaints to Bd of Bar Overseers & why

0

0

0

0

Understand what contributes to staff turnover w/in legal providers & how that impacts on quality

3

0

2

1

Understand & document impact of funding instability on quality

2

1

1

0

Finding ways to assess customer satisfaction (not just surveys) despite barriers created by challenges of poverty, language, etc. Go to community directly over time

17

4

6

7

Use mandatory CLE to introduce concepts re: poverty etc. to private bar

3

2

1

0

Gather & report data on demographics of the providers (language ability, race, cultural traditions, etc.)

1

0

0

1

Look at establish consistency in reporting requirements of funders

1

0

1

0

Reduce funder pressure to serve high volume of clients which requires legal providers to emphasize #s by getting more $$ to do quality work for all who need it

6

0

4

2

Recognize impact of funding on quality

0

0

0

0

Establish what an appropriate caseload should be relative to area of practice

2

1

0

1

Provide support to legal service providers in saying "no, we can't take another case."

1

0

1

0

Create/find new triage systems within the private bar

2

0

2

0

Creating a better bridge betw/substance of the law & the process of practicing law

0

0

0

0

Assuring privacy & respect for legal aid clients in a comfortable setting

1

0

1

0

Find ways to instill passion & commitment to social justice everywhere

8

1

2

5

Sustaining and Promoting Leadership for Justice, Group 7

Non-lawyers helping resolve problems w/o involving attorneys or courts; leadership crossover b/t social &legal organizations, i.e. attys on social justice organization boards

2

0

1

1

"211" line call for any kind of social assistance. Make sure these resources, ie. providers, are included

3

2

1

0

Educate people about availability of 211 resource

0

0

0

0

Do people answering calls have enough information to provide appropriate referrals

0

0

0

0

Find issues that sell & will resonate for people so they want to promote access to justice * Social & economic benefit of having a good justice system*

0

0

0

0

Response to call for help needs to be multi-layered and respond to all needs

0

0

0

0

Providers collaborate w/social service providers

0

0

0

0

Holistic approach would allow lawyers to specialize in legal issues. Educate attorneys on who else can help w/other issues. Need more than lawyers as leaders. Interdisciplinary leadership vehicles needed to be developed so that can respond to inter-disciplinary approach. Need to reflect needs of particular community. Bring all stakeholders together -- social service, legal, business -- with idea that improved access to justice leads to economic/social benefits for all. *

9

0

8

1

Have conversations like this across state w/diverse representatives of community

5

1

0

4

Create forum for stakeholders around State to have discussions like these to increase involvement & engender leadership

0

0

0

0

Participants should reflect religious, cultural, etc diversity of community and include non-attorneys, non-legal community members

4

0

2

2

Promote & publicize shared vision of access to justice, including economic & social benefits to society resulting from a good justice system

31

1

17

13

Change culture so that providing legal services more desirable for students, attorneys, for example, partners consistently participating in delivering access to justice and encouraging newer attorneys to do same (applies to all disciplines).

20

1

14

5

Total participants in category:

94

12

48

34

* full text includes: To overcome religious/cultural biases in our society, include religious leaders in the process. Involve them as leaders too. Engage wide range of institutions --business, legal, social service. Firm & business leadership set tone for civic mindfulness. Reward & acknowledge "new" attorneys civic involvement. Needs to be firm culture & example set by firm leadership.