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centers coordinated by legal aid organizations and local bar associations and online
customized self-help websites created and administered by the LSBA.

Self-Represented Litigant Judicial/Attorney Training & Education
Members of the SRL Committee and the SRL Counsel develop trainings and resources for
judges, court staff, and attorneys. Specifically, the SRL Counsel works with the Louisiana
District Judges Association Self-Represented Litigation Committee to create resources for
judges and courts. This includes a “bench guide” for adjudicating cases with at least one
SRL party, a training video for court staff on how to assist the public within relevant Rules
of Conduct, and other resources designed to help courts assist self-represented litigants.
The SRL Counsel also presents at judicial conferences and local bar associations on SRL-
specific issues including self-help center volunteer training sessions, best practices for
limited scope representation, and other SRL resources.

On January 13, 2023, the Committee held its fourth Self-Represented Litigants Service
Providers Summit in Baton Rouge at the law firm of Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips,
LLP. The summit was a one-day program that brought together judges, clerks of court,
court staff, legal aid and pro bono providers, local bar organizations, and domestic violence
organizations that provide support and services to assist self-represented litigants. Topics
included a review of best practices for working with SRLs; different self help center models
and how to establish one; an overview of court forms and new technologies; and available
services and resources for attorneys and judges assisting SRLs. During the summit, all
participants had an opportunity to discuss issues and share ideas on how to better assist
SRLs.

Technology Committee, Chair, Amanda Brown
The Access to Justice Commission Technology Committee’s goal is to improve technology for the
more efficient delivery of legal services in the civil legal aid arena. With the view that technology
can assist legal aid providers as their caseloads grow and budgets are constricted, the committee
helped implement an adult learning management system which could provide consistent training
for all civil legal aid attorneys throughout Louisiana. Most recently, the Committee has worked on
two main initiatives: increasing the availability of civil legal access points in civil legal deserts;
and creating additional plain language forms and instructions. The Committee continues to work
with the ATJ Commission’s Self-Represented Litigants Committee and the Supreme Court’s
Technology Commission on these various initiatives, and together, they have recently released
automated forms for 103 Divorces and Adult Name Change. Additionally, automated forms that
are forthcoming include: 102 Divorces, Petition for Custody, Visitation, and/or Child Support, and
Name Change for Children.

Additional Access to Justice Projects

Below are additional projects that the Access to Justice Department administers in collaboration
with its justice community partners.

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