Category Archives: LEP

Plain Language Advocacy and the Michigan State Bar

Posted on August 24, 2011 by richardzorza

This sounds unusual.  The state bar of Michigan not only has a plain language committee, but a regular column in their bar journal on the subject.  Here is a list of the most recent of those columns. Ambiguous Drafting and … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, LEP | Tagged | 2 Comments

Language Services — Medical Model — Example and General Approach

Posted on August 16, 2011 by richardzorza

While the legal system seems to be having difficulty moving forward with language access, here is a nice Oakland Tribune article that talks about creative use of video technology to ensure translation in a hospital. The medical center uses video … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, LEP, Medical System Comparision | Comments Off on Language Services — Medical Model — Example and General Approach

Updates on ABA Langauge Access Standards — No Action by ABA

Posted on August 9, 2011 by richardzorza

A somewhat complicated picture is emerging about the progress of the ABA language Access Standards.  The bottom line is the ABA House of Delegates has postponed consideration of the Standards to the February 2012 meeting, following a resolution from the … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP | 1 Comment

DOJ Posts List of Funding Resorces for Court LEP Improvements

Posted on August 3, 2011 by richardzorza

With the ABA proposed Language Access Standards coming up for ABA approval, it may be worth noting that DOJ has posted a listing of possible funding resources for courts as they move to address LEP issues. The listing is here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Dept. of Justice, Funding, LEP | Comments Off on DOJ Posts List of Funding Resorces for Court LEP Improvements

A Way to Move Forward on Language Access — Create a Laboratory Language Access Court

Posted on June 8, 2011 by richardzorza

For many, the language access/participation issue (see here for recent blog on terminology) seems overwhelming.  While agreeing strongly with the goals, folks are anxious over the required levels of expenditures, and nervous of possible diversion of money urgently needed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LEP, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change | Tagged | 2 Comments

Americans with Disabilities Act, Internet Tools, and the DOJ Regulatory Process

Posted on June 6, 2011 by richardzorza

There may not have been enough attention to recent language in explanation of ADA regulations updated by DOJ and effective, after prior notice, last March 15, relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in State and local government services.  … Continue reading →

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Is Language Access the Best Phrase? Should We Start Talking About Language Participation?

Posted on June 1, 2011 by richardzorza

There’s rightly lots of attention to language access these days.  Triggered in part, of course, by the DOJ letter to the state courts. A genuinely modest proposal:  Lets think about talking about language participation rather than language access. “Participation” is … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, LEP | 2 Comments

ABA Posts Draft Standards for Language Access in the Courts — A Massive Project

Posted on May 9, 2011 by richardzorza

ABA’s SCAID has now posted its Draft Standards for Language Access in the Courts.  The project is described here.  The Steering Committee and Project Advisory Group are listed here.  There will be an Open Forum/Teleconference on Thursday, May 26, 2011, … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP, Self-Help Services | 1 Comment

Migration Policy Institute Data on Foreign Born as Planning Tool

Posted on April 1, 2011 by richardzorza

The Migration Policy Institute has a nice tool to get quick data (2009 ACS data) on foreign-born in the US, state by state. You click on a state, and then get basic information, together with links on topics such as … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, LEP, Tools | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Perspective on Interpreting for Monolingual Anglo-Phones

Posted on March 17, 2011 by richardzorza

An somwhat unusual byproduct of the Japan nuke disaster is the opportunity to watch the Japanese public TV station English Language service over the Internet (for all I know it may always be available if you know where to look, … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP | 1 Comment

LSC TIG Request for Letters of Intent

Posted on February 10, 2011 by richardzorza

The LSC TIG request for Letters of Intent is now out.  The Letters of Intent (LOI) are due Monday March 7, 2011.  This Wed Feb 16 webinar (update — now available here) on the process would be particularly helpful for … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Forms, Funding, Law Schools, LEP, Libraries, Mobile Technology, Pro Bono, Self-Help Services, Technology | Tagged , | Comments Off on LSC TIG Request for Letters of Intent

Ontario Moves on Sign Languge Interpretation in Legal Context — A Suggestion for an IOLTA Innovation Pool

Posted on January 20, 2011 by richardzorza

The Law Foundation of Ontario, their IOLTA program, has what we in the  US would call an RFP out for projects dealing with Sign Language Interpretation in the legal system.  Applicants can be “from across Canada” The grant program comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, IOLTA, LEP | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ontario Moves on Sign Languge Interpretation in Legal Context — A Suggestion for an IOLTA Innovation Pool

New York Courts Document Assembly Innovations — Spanish Instructions and Court Awards

Posted on January 16, 2011 by richardzorza

The New York courts are implementing integrating Spanish instructions into their DIY document assembly program.  If users so choose, the online questions appear in Spanish as well as English  and the printed instructions to the litigants also appear in Spanish. … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, LEP, Self-Help Services, Technology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

A Simple Idea for Standardizing Language Locations in LEP-Friendly ATJ Websites

Posted on January 15, 2011 by richardzorza

This idea came up at the LSC TIG Conference. Right now, websites that have information in multiple languages, may show available languages anywhere — at the top, at the bottom, along the right or left, or in a box somewhere.  … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP, Technology | Comments Off on A Simple Idea for Standardizing Language Locations in LEP-Friendly ATJ Websites