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Libraries helping the public

Libraries helping the public. Guiding patrons to court self-help tools. Utah Center for Legal Inclusion. The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion (UCLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the goals of equity and inclusion in Utah’s legal profession.

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Libraries helping the public

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  1. Libraries helping the public Guiding patrons to court self-help tools

  2. Utah Center for Legal Inclusion • The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion (UCLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the goals of equity and inclusion in Utah’s legal profession. • By coordinating with the Utah State Bar and its affinity groups, legal employers, government agencies, educational institutions, and community partners, UCLI strives to enhance organizational inclusion, facilitate educational opportunities and professional advancement for students and attorneys with diverse backgrounds, assist in eliminating bias in Utah’s justice system, and track the progress of legal inclusion efforts throughout the state. • UCLI invites all to participate in its inclusion initiatives, which will help strengthen Utah’s legal institutions in an increasingly diverse state.

  3. assist in eliminating bias in Utah’s justice system • Remember this goal

  4. Community Outreach Committee • UCLI’s Community Outreach Committee will build partnerships with local businesses and chambers of commerce to raise awareness and build support for legal inclusion efforts.   • The Outreach Committee will also partner with community groups and organizations serving diverse and marginalized populations in an effort to develop more effective programs and plans that meet the legal needs of diverse community interests.  • Through these efforts, UCLI aims to (i) ensure that all Utahns understand and trust Utah’s courts and justice system, (ii) increase proximity between lawyers and diverse populations in Utah, and (iii) amplify access to justice efforts around the state. 

  5. Pro Se LItigants • It is widely accepted that the number of self‐represented litigants has skyrocketed nationwide, especially in family law cases. • Although nationwide comprehensive data on the number of self‐represented litigants do not exist, anecdotal evidence supports the belief that self‐representation is increasing. • The challenge for courts and the entire legal profession is how to respond. Most observers in Utah would agree that the traditional model of family law litigation—both spouses represented by lawyers settling their disputes before a judge—is no longer the norm in family law cases. • Judges face a dilemma: assisting a self‐represented litigant to level the playing field against a represented party is seen by many as violating impartiality, even if the assistance is rendered to create a just result.

  6. Why is this a problem? • Expensive for courts to get bogged down with pro se litigants • Puts judges in a hard position • Cases don’t advance as they should and clog the system • People don’t understand what is happening • Bad results can occur • Reduces access to justice for large part of the community

  7. Access denied; justice denied • People who can’t afford lawyers end up being burdened with debts they can’t dispute • People who can’t afford lawyers end up not have access to their children, being evicted illegally, and generally can be victimized.

  8. What has Utah done to help this problem? • https://www.utcourts.gov/selfhelp/

  9. People just need a little help

  10. Access to a computer

  11. Access to a printer

  12. Someone who can point them in the right direction……

  13. I have a great idea!Let’s send Pro Se Litigants to Public Libraries!!!

  14. Libraries are a natural point of access for the community • Libraries are public spaces • Libraries have computers and printers • Libraries are centrally located, often times on public bus routes etc. • Libraries are filled with people who love to help others! • Libraries have smart people who can understand what they can and cant do

  15. UCLI + Libraries = Location where the public can go and get direction for how to use the court’s self-help information

  16. What you are not doing…. • Not giving legal advice • Not telling people what to do • you are a guide to the programs avaialble

  17. Guess what? State Legal Library does this already! • So like all great ideas----someone has had it before! There is a person who does this….as her job! • She teaches people how to help others with legal matters.

  18. How can UCLI help? • We can arrange for lawyers to provide clinics in rural areas • We can arrange for lawyers to provide remote clinics in rural areas • We can help fund a public service campaign • We can develop a program where libraries get access to justice certified • We can help market the program to pro se litigants

  19. Why do this? • Helps people • Gets more people into libraries • Reinforces libraries as the center of the community • Helps spread knowledge • Gives another purpose to bookmobiles

  20. What information is out there?

  21. How many of you would be interested in getting certified?

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