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1st JDC (Caddo) – The Shreveport Bar Foundation provides monthly consultation clinics
to the public, which include free, court-approved domestic forms.

Judicial/Attorney Education

The SRL Counsel serves on 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, CLE sessions specific to rural courts, and other resources
designed to help courts assist self-represented litigants. The SRL Counsel also regularly presents
to judicial conferences and local bar associations on pro-se issues including self-help center
volunteer training sessions, best practices for limited scope representation (with the LSBA Ethics
Counsel), and child support resources. After the passing of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, the SRL Counsel worked with legal aid providers, the
Louisiana Supreme Court, and members of the judiciary to provide resources, including a bench
card, and trainings to assist judges and Justices of the Peace with evictions under the new laws.

Technology Committee

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, committee
members reviewed current and past technology innovations developed and in use by legal aid
programs. To explore and offer technology solution recommendations to the Commission, the
committee sought out legal aid attorneys and directors, private practitioners, and technology
professionals as members to provide a broad scope of expertise. Members are reviewing situations
where technology can improve direct client access as well as those aimed at in-house focused
management to improve efficiency. To target a specific area of law, currently members are focused
on projects which will impact a family law practice i.e., the area of law most in demand by legal
aid clients and the public, in general. The committee’s efforts focused on an adult learning
management system which could provide consistent training for all civil legal aid attorneys
throughout Louisiana.

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