Page 260 - 2024 Orientation Manual

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 April 19, 2024, the Committee held its fifth Self-Represented Litigant Service Provider
Summit at the Louisiana National Guard Training Center in Pineville. 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 self-help centers; an overview of court forms and new technologies and
generative AI; expungements; 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 released automated
forms for 103 Divorces and Adult Name Change. Automated forms that are forthcoming include:
102 Divorces, Petition for Custody, Visitation, and/or Child Support, and Name Change for
Children. The Committee is also helping draft a domestic violence divorce form and certain
eviction-related forms.

Additional Access to Justice Projects

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

Find Legal Help
The Louisiana State Bar Association’s “Find Legal Help” Portal is designed to help the public
identify legal options including, finding an attorney and/or legal aid organization in their area, as
well as access other services and resources that may be of assistance in resolving their legal issue.
The portal design is based on the continuum of legal services, assistance, and resources currently
available from self-help and legal information to limited scope – all the way up to full
representation. Through its partnerships and collaborative work with justice community partners,
ATJ staff continuously updates the portal with new information and organizations that provide

assistance. To access the information listed, go online to: www.lsba.org/public/FindLegalHelp.
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