LSC's 2019 Innovations in Technology Conference

With limited funding, most organizations are constantly seeking new low-cost resources to increase the number of pro se filers they can support. Guide & File offers free 24/7 online document assembly and the ability to electronically file the resulting document. While adoption of the tool at the court level grows, legal aid professionals are often unaware that this free online tool is available. This session will demonstrate the Odyssey Guide & File application from the filer and legal aid professional perspectives. The goals of the session are to increase awareness of the tool within the legal aid community, provide tips to easily inform the public of the tool, and to share success stories from TIG grants in Texas and New Mexico. The Honorable Judge Andrea Thompson of the 416th District Court of Collin County, Texas, will also share her court’s simple tips to increase public adoption of the tool, which can be replicated by any organization.

Technology is fostering new opportunities for public-private partnerships (3P) in the development of justice-related client solutions. This session will focus on two initiatives where government, courts, nonprofit organizations, and commercial businesses are working together to empower people to address their legal issues. The panelists will provide demonstrations of the solutions developed (TurboTax-like court forms and an intelligent dispute resolution platform), and share “lessons learned” along the road of 3P technology collaboration.

Victims of crime have identified access to accurate and reliable legal information as a barrier to accessing legal services. The Legal Information Network of Colorado (LINC) program at Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center (RMvlc) developed a robust legal information website and integrated issue-spotting application for victims of crime to address that barrier as part of an Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) funded victim legal assistance network. Session panelists will utilize a case study of a year in the life of a crime victim to shed light on the complex legal needs involved and how the LINC website helps people address those needs. Panelists will also discuss lessons learned in developing technology-based tools.