Law Access to Justice in Rhode Island Presenters

Law & Access to Justice in Rhode Island

Presenters Jessica Almeida Michael Vander. Heijden Alisha Hennen Assistant Librarian – Public Services Associate Law Librarian for Research Services Access Services/Assessment Librarian University of Massachusetts School of Law - Dartmouth Yale Law School Roger Williams University School of Law

The Problem Photo by Matthew Henry

Access to Justice: The Justice Gap and Low-Income Americans • In the past year, 71% of low-income households experienced at least one civil legal problem. • 86% of the civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans in the past year received inadequate or no legal help. Sources: The Justice Gap, released in June 2017 by the Legal Services Corp & ABA Commission of the Future of Legal Services report from 2016

Access to Justice: The Justice Gap and Moderate-Income Americans • Efforts targeting legal assistance for moderate-income individuals have not satisfied the need. • The vast number of unrepresented parties in court adversely impacts all litigants, including those who have representation. Sources: The Justice Gap, released in June 2017 by the Legal Services Corp & ABA Commission of the Future of Legal Services report from 2016

Top reasons for not seeking professional legal help • Deciding to deal with a problem on one’s own; • NOT KNOWING WHERE TO LOOK FOR HELP OR WHAT RESOURCES MIGHT EXIST; • Not being sure whether their problem is “legal” Sources: The Justice Gap, released in June 2017 by the Legal Services Corp & ABA Commission of the Future of Legal Services report from 20

Reliable data on the number of cases with SRLs do not exist. “Preliminary data provided by five states show wide variation in the percentage of cases with selfrepresented litigants (SRLs)…for example, Table 1 shows that adoption cases vary from a low of 1% in State B to a high of 81% in State A. Civilprotection/restraining-order cases seem to be the most consistent across states, with four of the five states reporting an SRL caseload of between 38% and 48%. Source: National Center for State Courts

So now what? Where do patrons go who can’t afford a lawyer?

Crisis in Libraries Photo by Jamie Street

Trial court libraries are facing the some of the same obstacles as public libraries. • Budget cuts • Staffing issues • Closing branches Photo by Unkown Author licensed under CC BY-ND

Ethical Concerns: • Unauthorized practice of law • LLNE Legal Link • Online forms • Library policies • List of legal resources

Some legal resources to include: • Local Legal Aid • Law School Clinics • Legal Incubators • Court self-help centers • Legal Referral Services • Rhode Island Bar Association • Lawyer in the Library Programs Photo by Raoul Droog

Questions? Also, follow us on Twitter! @a 2 jlawlibne Photo by Camylla Battani