Increasing Access to Justice Through Technology-Enabled Collaboration and Volunteer Participation

Liz Keith, LawHelp Program Manager at Pro Bono Net  and SI alumna, will be speaking at the Community Information Corps fall 2009 seminar series (SI-575) on Friday, November 6 from 11:30-1 pm in 311 West Hall on the central campus of the University of Michigan. This event is free and open to the public.

The need for legal services among the poor is overwhelming. According to an American Bar Association study, at least 40% of low and moderate-income households experience a legal problem each year. Yet studies show that the collective civil legal aid effort is meeting only about 20% of the legal needs of low-income people. For families living on the edge of poverty, the consequences -- eviction, job loss, or failing to obtain protection from domestic violence -- can be life-altering.

Founded in 1998 with a grant from the Open Society Institute, Pro Bono Net works in close partnership with nonprofit legal organizations across the United States and Canada to increase access to justice for the millions of poor people who face legal problems every year without help from a lawyer. Pro Bono Net's web platforms have been adopted in 30 states and (i) support the innovative and effective use of technology by the nonprofit legal sector, (ii) increase participation by volunteers, and (iii) facilitate collaborations among nonprofit legal organizations and advocates working on similar issues or in the same region. Using examples from the field, this presentation will explore ways in which access to justice technology innovations can help prevent legal issues that keep low-income individual and families in poverty and expand resources available to assist them.