Chicago-Kent College of Law Viewbook - (Page 25) On Access to Justice Professor Ronald W. Staudt and Rachel Medina The Center for Access to Justice & Technology, directed by Professor Ron Staudt, conducts research, builds software tools and supports initiatives to improve access to the courts for low-income people. Professor Staudt and third-year student Rachel Medina are managing the upgrade of A2J Author, an innovative Web-based program that guides self-represented litigants step by step through various legal processes. First used in the Cook County courts, the software is rapidly spreading nationwide. At least 80 percent of the legal needs of low-income people go unmet. What we’ve worked out here is a way to get law students integrally involved in developing nationally prominent solutions to the access to justice crisis. Technology can streamline court procedures for people who can’t afford lawyers and have relatively simple matters— name changes, guardianships, default divorces. Rachel: I’m directing the research for A2J Guided Interview templates that will be used across the country. Students from the A2J Student Editorial Board will do a comparative study of forms from several states to identify data elements that might be used. The programming of each A2J Guided Interview will be done by volunteer students. Prof. Staudt: In most law schools, the outcome of research is a paper. Here legal research and analysis delivers a product that provides real solutions for people. Rachel: It has been quite exciting to work with and train legal aid lawyers and personnel throughout the country, so that each will be able to create unique A2J Guided Interviews for their constituents on any number of legal topics. We’re not only helping low-income people, we’re taking some of the load off legal aid and court personnel. It’s very satisfying—it makes me feel good about becoming a lawyer. Prof. Staudt: On Professor Staudt: www.kentlaw.edu/faculty/rstaudt On the Center for Access to Justice & Technology and A2J Author: www.kentlaw.edu/cajt Who’s Who 24 | 25 http://www.kentlaw.edu/faculty/rstaudt http://www.kentlaw.edu/cajt
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