Category Archives: Forms

Thoughts on the LSC TIG Solicitation

Posted on February 21, 2013 by

The LSC Technology Grants solicitation is out, with short letters of intent due March 18.  While applications must be made by existing LSC grantees, there is great openness to cooperative grants in which access to justice partners, including courts, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Forms, Law Schools, Legal Aid, LSC, Metrics, Pro Bono, Software Developers, Technology, Triage | 1 Comment

Claudia Johnson on Plain Language Resources

Posted on January 7, 2013 by

Two new Plain Language Resources for Courts and Access to Justice Initiatives In November 2012, the Maryland Access to Justice Commission released a plain plain language guide specifically for those writing instructions and materials for court users. The guide is … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Plain Language | Leave a comment

New Access Brief

Posted on January 4, 2013 by

The Center on Court Access to Justice for All, with which I am affiliated, has just released its second Access Brief, on Forms and Document assembly. Given that this Brief has the imprimatur of the National Center for State Courts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Document Assembly, Forms, Self-Help Services | Leave a comment

Victory in Texas

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

This says is all (from the Texas Supreme Court Media Advisory):  COURT SUBMITS PRO SE DIVORCE FORMS FOR COMMENT

  The Texas Supreme Court has approved for comment self-directed forms intended for uncontested divorces for couples without children or real property.

The … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Forms | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Big Step for Pro Se Forms — Supreme Court Access to Justice

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

As reported by the ABA Journal and the AP (in Seattle Times here), on Tuesday, the Supreme Court granted cert in two self-represented cases.  And, as the ABA Journal detailed “One was written in longhand, in pencil, by an inmate … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Self-Help Services, Supreme Court | Leave a comment

Telling the Online Forms Story — NY DIY Video

Posted on August 7, 2012 by

The New York Courts have long been a leader in the creative integration and promotion of online forms and document assembly.  They call them DIY Forms. Here is a great video now up on YouTube. It shows people why the … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Forms, Technology | Tagged | 1 Comment

Did You Know Court Forms are a Funny Topic?

Posted on June 21, 2012 by

I read, and got permission to post, this hysterical article from the Austin Lawyer. Entre Nous  –  Family Form Foes Fight Fiercely By Claude Ducloux, Hill, Ducloux, Carnes & de la Garza As a board-certified bar groupie who, by virtue … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Simplification | 1 Comment

Plain Language and LEP — Resource Site

Posted on June 18, 2012 by

In all the talk about LEP and plain language, this site has tended to sit under the radar.  This great resource site includes a wide range of model plain language informational sheets, including non-English information.  WriteClearly.org includes informational materials, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, LEP | 1 Comment

Claudia Johnson on “A Tale of Two Bars”

Posted on April 23, 2012 by

So, this blog has shared information on the debate that ensued in Texas, when the Supreme Court moved to simplified family law forms. http://accesstojustice.net/2012/01/25/texas-supreme-court-moves-forward-on-forms/. The State Bar has tried to change  the Court’s decision to move towards simplifing the forms … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Funding | 4 Comments

Bloomberg Editorial Board Endorses Forms, Self-Help Services, Unbundling

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

The Bloomberg Editorial Board looks at the Texas forms brouhaha and comes out in favor of innovations for access: The Supreme Court of Texas, like courts in dozens of other states and counties, wants to make things easier by providing … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Forms, Self-Help Services, Unbundling | Tagged | 3 Comments

Wall Street Journal has Video Report on Texas Forms Fight

Posted on February 24, 2012 by

That’s right.  Not only does the Wall Street Journal have an article  (behind a paywall), but now has a video interview with the reporter, covering much of the ground. The general tone seems to be that using the forms without … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms | 1 Comment

Claudia Johnson On Ideas for the 2012 TIG Round

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

The Legal Services Corporation has made available their Letter of Intent Request for this cycle of TIG grants. The letters are due 3/12/2012. More information can be found here. The areas of interest are 4 this year: a) using mobile … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Funding, Technology | 2 Comments

Leveraging Forms, Unbundled Assistance, and Lawyer Referral Systems

Posted on February 2, 2012 by

Here is an idea that might simultaneously assist in the adoption and expansion of forms, promote unbundling, and bring the lawyer referral services groups into better addressing access issues. It is simple.  Court forms should include in the general instructions … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Unbundling | Tagged | 1 Comment

National Forms Availabilty Data and Talking Points

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

The Texas Access to Justice Commission, during their advocacy for forms in the face of bar opposition, did a wonderful job of surveying states for their availability of forms.  Here is a spreadsheet showing the results.  Here is a snapshot … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Forms | Tagged | 1 Comment

Texas Supreme Court Moves Forward on Forms

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Real leadership from the Texas Supreme Court.  Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson has responded to the State Bar’s position on forms with this letter to the President of the State Bar.  Here is the key language:

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Forms | Tagged | 1 Comment