“Pioneers in Self-Help: A 21st Century Vision for Libraries, Self-help Centers, Legal Aid

Websites and Pro Bono Partners”

IntroductionsWhat Potential Partners Are Seeking in Library Partnerships (15 min)Discussion of sample collaborative initiatives (40 min)Lessons Learned About Collaboration (15 min)Closing – Additional questions and comments

 Panel:

Sara Galligan, Dakota County Law Library - moderator

Ayn Crawley, MD Legal Assistance Network (Legal Aid partnerships/websites)

Pamela Gregory, Peoples Law Library Outreach (Libraries / Pro Bono partnerships/websites)

Susan Ledray, Self-Help Service Center, Hennepin County District Court (Court partnerships/Self help programs)

Discussion 1 – What are potential partners looking for?

•Access to Justice regardless of ability or willingness to hire an attorney

•Interest in fair, efficient and just resolution of legal problems

•"Traditional" models are no longer working

Discussion 2 – What are potential partners looking for?

(And what are the benefits of partnerships to Libraries?)

County Law Libraries and Collaborating with Courts

Court attitudes about helping SRLs vary from enthusiastic to reluctant

Attitude of Reluctant Courts “It is like self-help brain surgery” Pro se litigants are time consuming and should be banned Forms and help just encourage more self-representation Help to SRLs

is unauthorized practice of law violates court neutrality is “unfair” to lawyers

Impact on Law Libraries Court sends everyone to the library –the library is a public space in the courthouse Court attempts to restrict library help Court refuses to cooperate on forms and instructions

County Law Libraries and Collaborating with Courts

Attitude of Enthusiastic Courts Constitutional right to represent self Court goals are to increase access to justice Good forms help to make SRLs present a info needed by courts Good instructions help explain steps and process Self-help Centers mean better outcomes & pleadings/ hearing prep, ↓ cancelled hearings Lawyers benefit thru help to SRLs

Impact on Law Libraries Desire to partner with library May not understand role library can play Look to library for resources: space, materials, funding, computers, technology advice etc. Look to library to help identify common questions Look to library to provide forms and materials not available at Court; website assistance

Law Libraries and the Courts

Similarities Shared clientele Shared limitations Shared interest in a smooth

running justice system Legal knowledge Lack of knowledge about

services the other provides

Differences Focus on issues (case

specific vs broad) Knowledge (fragmented vs

holistic) Time spent with SRLs Scope of assistance Who comes in for service

Law and Public Librarians Collaborating with Legal Services

What legal services agencies are looking for Website content ideas from the broader public, Help in website content development, New ways to reach the public via a network of reliable

professionals active in the community, Ways to have a community presence for SRLs needing

access to on-line website resources, Justice system gatekeepers who can help guide website

development, and A means to provide some help to SRLs where legal services

cannot provide representation.

Law and Public Librarians Collaborating with Legal Services

Why partnerships on legal services self-help websites are a great match

Legal services mandate: create statewide justice communities via partnerships

Shared commitment to help low income people on legal matters (esp.SRLs) Complementary attitudes towards public demand for services (stemming the

tide vs. ↑info services) Librarians are expert knowledge managers

essential skills to develop self –help websites, and skills that are not generally the strength of legal services staff

Legal services websites support and complement the work of law librarians (and public librarians)

Virtually all states have funding for statewide self-help legal websites (see flyer)

9 of the 32 respondent libraries collaborate with volunteer attorneys

to offer self-help clinics

County Law Libraries (MI) (MN) (CA - 2) (WA) (TX) – County Legal Resource Center (WI)– Supreme Court Law Library (NV) – State Law Library (MT)

Survey Questions

•Does the library partner with pro bono attorneys to help SRLs?

•Other partners in serving SRLs?

•Top 3 areas for SRL referrals

•Offer legal research support to pro bono attorneys?

•Partner with state or local bar associations?

•Partner with legal aid/services offices?

•Maintain list of pro bono opportunities?

County

State

SupremeCourt

Academic

LoC Lawlibrary

Pro Bono Attorneys and Librarians – Survey Results

June 2006 survey of AALL’s SCCLL-SIS and LISP-SIS members

Discussion 2 – Sample Collaborative Initiatives

Libraries Partner with Legal Services Websites, Courts and Self-Help Programs, Pro Bono Attorneys

Law and Public Librarians Collaborating with Legal Services

Sample joint MLAN –Library Initiatives in Maryland Librarians as Self-Help Website Stakeholder Committee Members Librarians are Primary Source of Website Content Ideas Placement of Website Self-Help Outreach Sites in Libraries Legal Services Website Navigation as Librarian Professional

Development Topic Librarians as “Legal Research” Content Developers for Self-Help

Websites Joint Content Development between a State Law Library & Legal

Services Website Interesting Possibilities for Joint Funding Proposals (Legal Services &

Libraries) Librarians as “Gatekeepers” to the Justice Resource in the Community

A Story of a Law Librarian, a Self-Help Program and a Pro Bono Partnership

Minnesota Collaboration Examples

Task Force on Law Libraries and Pro Se Statewide Virtual Self Help Center Hennepin County Self Help Center, Bar,

Legal Services, Library partnerships Other county initiatives (Dakota, Stearns,

Wright, Washington) Grant Opportunities

Discussion 3 – Lessons Learned in Collaboration

Lessons Learned in Collaboration

Lesson 1 – Each partner must find value in the partnership  

Lesson 2 – The mission and needs of legal services providers, courts and self-help programs dovetail with the knowledge management strengths of librarians

Lesson 3 - Take time to build relationships and regularly

reconnect Lesson 4 - Each partner has different funding sources and

connections, which can be leveraged for the benefit of all

Lessons Learned in Collaboration

Lesson 5 - Training

Lesson 6 - Buy-in by parent organization/active leadership

Lesson 7 - Seek Opportunities for Recognition of the Partnership

Lesson 8- Benchmarks