lsc technology initiative grant conference 2015 | law help

What’s New, What’s Next?

TIG Conference

January 16, 2015

Presenters Liz Keith

Program Director, Pro Bono Net

Xander Karsten LawHelp Program Coordinator, Pro Bono Net

Jillian Theil

Training and Field Support Coordinator, Pro Bono Net

Mirenda Meghelli

LawHelp Interactive Program Coordinator, Pro Bono Net

Jenny Singleton

Legal Technology Project Manager, MN Legal Services State Support

Danielle Rebar

Website Manager, Northwest Justice Project

Elliott FontenetteSupervising Attorney, Texas Legal Services Center

A quick poll.

Tell us about you!

Agenda

• Program initiatives

• State project highlights

• WashingtonLawHelp.org

• ProJusticeMN.org

•TexasLawHelp.org

• Looking ahead

• Your ideas for 2015 and beyond?

Additional materials at: probono.net/lawhelpnetwork

Program Initiatives

Continuing networking, training and

partnership development support

• Community Networking

• Coordinator calls

• Online support resources

• Individual admin trainings

• Marketing and community

partnership support

• 12 additional trainings available

from 2014 Community trainings

Networking, training and partnership

development support

Looking ahead to 2015

Language Access Initiative in 2014

Pro Bono Net in partnership with the LSI Foundation provided:

• 18 partners

• 220 pieces of content

• 20 languages

• Over $54,000 in translations

In 3 years this grant has provided over $145,000 in translations.

Thank you to all our partners for making this a successful year!

Recent and Upcoming

Development Initiatives on

LawHelp

Looking back at 2014

LH3 Platform

•Search engine improvements

•Navigation refinements

•New content reporting tool

Provided technical and programmatic support for TIG-funded Projects

Welcomed new partners to our community

•Legal Aid Association of California

•Puerto Rico Legal Services

Adopting Mobile Innovations

• Mobile optimized navigation

• 7 launched mobile sites & 3 in

development

• API compatible with Mobile

Commons to share content via

SMS

• Over 1,000 people received information

from LawHelp sites in WA, NY and GA

through this project

Creating Mini Portals for Users

In 3 year over 40 mini-

portals were published

or put into development

Used to…

o Highlight subject/user

specific information

o Provide rapid

response

o Build partnerships

Expanding LiveHelp for enhanced

assistance

Green = Live projects using volunteers

Blue = Live projects staffed by legal aid staff, Americorps*VISTA volunteers, and librarians

Upcoming TIG-Funded Platform

Improvements

User-facing tools

o Usability and navigation improvements

o New tabbed resource treatment

o Increased usability for high volume referral partners

Administrative

o Tool to maintain organizational listings

o Increased reporting and evaluation capacities

o New Mexico Triage pilot (in partnership with NeotaLogic and New Mexico Legal Aid)

TIG-funded Outreach and Content

Partnerships

Statewide librarian training series

in Florida

• Creation of LawHelp content

feed dashboard

• Creation of 4 mini-sites for

FloridaLawHelp library partners

Regional librarian training and

content-sharing in New York

• Leverages LH3’s embeddable

content widgets

Recent and Upcoming

Development Initiatives on

probono.net

Improved Support for Custom & Mobile

Responsive Designs

Mobile Innovations Leveraging the

probono.net platform

Uses of the probono.net platform in

rapid-response efforts

Tools to Support Non-Attorney

“Navigator” models

• The “Debt and Eviction

Navigator” (aka DEN)

• New York navigator pilot

assessment and new

resource development

(TIG-funded)

• More partner support channels – listserv, coordinator calls

• Volunteer mobilization initiatives

• Projects tool (TIG-funded)

• Improved calendar tool interface (Q1 2015)

• Improved bulk upload capabilities (Q1 2015)

• probono.net Puerto Rico (TIG-funded 2015)

• Increased support for custom designs

• probono.net API

probono.net

New and Upcoming Initiatives

Recent and Upcoming

Development Initiatives on Law

Help Interactive

Usage is growing

In 2014…

•Over 900,000 LHI-powered interviews

•Over 500,000 documents generated

Since 2005…

•Over 4 million interviews

•2 million forms generated

LawHelp Interactive Rebuild

•Development completed mid-August

• Internal testing August-ongoing

•First Round Partner Testing began in November

•Partner testing will formally re-launched soon

Program Updates

•E-Filing projects in Minnesota and New York

•LHI Widgets rollout

•First-ever online LHI developer training series and

project management track

State Project Highlights

ProJusticeMN.org

ProJusticeMNServing the Public Good

Minnesota Legal Services State SupportJ. Singleton

Pro Bono to Go

Mobile-optimized library of

interview guides and settlement checklists, designed specifically for

pro bono attorneys

Interviews & checklists cover the

most common areas of law pro

bono attorneys encounter, such as eviction and divorce

Mobile optimization allows for use

where attorneys don’t have access

to a computer, such as in legal clinics or on the courthouse steps

Pro Bono to Go is a collaboration of Legal Aid Services of Northeastern Minnesota,

Pro Bono Net, MSBA, Legal Services State Support, VAP (Duluth), VLP (Boston)

Pro Bono to Go – Background

Pro Bono to Go – In Action

ProJusticeMN Redesign

ProJusticeMN - Background

Goals• Streamlined look

• Easier to navigate

• User friendly

Focus areas• Aesthetics

• Logical flow

• Law Library

Strategies• Fresh eyes

• Reviewing other sites

• Reducing number of resources

ProJusticeMN – Old Homepage

ProJusticeMN – New Homepage

ProJusticeMN – Old Library

ProJusticeMN – New Library

ProJusticeMN – Old Volunteer

ProJusticeMN – New Volunteer

Questions?

J. [email protected]

WashingtonLawHelp.org

2014 Focus – Readability and

Accessibility

Plain language edits completed on NJP authored resources

New self-help videos

859,000 visitors and 2.7 million page views in 2014

March 2014 launched mobile site. 125K visits and 635K page views in 2014

Content Review/Readability Approach

Review resources at least annually

Popular content reviewed more frequently

Lengthy publications covering a broad topic

separated out into several shorter versions

Publications Editor applies plain language

guidelines when editing content

Q & A format in both html and pdf formats

More Videos -

youtube.com/NWJusticeProject

American Sign Language Videos

SMS Texting Campaign - Driver Relicensing

Goal: Connect individuals to mobile site for self-help resources, referral to legal aid

hotline and county relicensing programs to help get their driver license reinstated to get or

keep a job.

Radio Ads

Most effective marketing used

Targeted counties where we

weren’t getting many DL

cases

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Opt In Count

Opt In Count

Library pads and

Bookmarks

Marketing Efforts

Community Outreach – 3000 recipients

TexasLawHelp.org

Charting a Course:

TexasLawHelp and

Strategic PlanningBy:

Elliott Fontenette

Managing Attorney

Self Represented Litigants Project

512-477-6000 Extension 109

[email protected]

TexasLawHelp Background

55

TexasLawHelp Mission

Mission: Texas Law Help is a web site

dedicated to providing FREE and RELIABLE

Legal Information and other legal services

to low-income Texans.

This mission guides all actions undertaken

in connection with TexasLawHelp.org.

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TexasLawHelp Boards

TexasLawHelp reports to TWO boards.

Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF)

TAJF provides day to day funding for SRLP activities.

TAJF also provides guidance and strategic direction for TexasLawHelp.

Strategic Plan was submitted to and approved by the TAJF board.

TexasLawHelp Advisory Board

Continued on next slide

57

TexasLawHelp Advisory Board

Composed of representatives from Stakeholder and Funder Organizations.

Lone Star Legal Aid

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas

Texas Office of Court Administration

Travis County Courts

Travis County law Library

Texas Access to Justice Foundation

Texas Council on Family Violence

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The Role of The TexasLawHelp Advisory Board

Provide leadership, feedback, review, and assistance to support and promote the growth and functioning of TexasLawHelp.org.

Facilitate better communication and teamwork between stakeholder organizations and TexasLawHelp.org.

Enable TexasLawHelp.org to better support and assist stakeholder organizations in achieving their goals.

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Strategic Planning – In Detail

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What is Strategic Planning?

Strategic planning is an organization’s

process of defining its strategy, or

direction, and making decisions on

allocating its resources to pursue this

strategy. A.

A. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_planning

61

Why is Strategic Planning Important?

Reason1: Clearly defines the purpose of the

organization and allows an organization to

establish realistic goals and objectives

consistent within that mission in a defined time

frame within the organization's capacity for

implementation. A.

This is especially important in the legal aid world,

when it can sometimes seem like we move from

responding to high priority item to high priority item without a clear plan in place.

A. http://managementhelp.org/strategicplanning/ind

ex.htm#anchor1234

62


Contd.

Reason 2: It allows your organization to communicate these goals and objectives to the organization’s constituents. A.

This enables your funders to better understand your work, and why certain tasks are undertaken and others are not.

Allows stakeholders to better understand what you are asking of them.

Enables you to build in milestones to ensure you are meeting the goals of your funders.

A.

http://managementhelp.org/strategicplanni

ng/index.htm#anchor1234

63


Contd.

Reason 3: Ensure the most effective use of

the organization’s resources by focusing

on the key priorities. A.

This is of paramount importance.

We are often working in understaffed projects

so we can not afford to waste time and

energy on tasks that do not contribute to the

overall mission of the website.

Prevents mission creep.

A.



64


Contd.

Reason 4: Provide a base from which progress can be measured and establish a mechanism for informed change when needed. A.

No plan is perfect.

For strategic planning to be successful it must be able to be adjusted in light of present conditions and future goals.

Through having an initial plan, strategic planning allows you to understand how and/or why certain goals did not work or need to be adjusted for better planning in the future.

A.



65


Contd.

Reason 5: Listen to everyone’s opinions in order to build consensus about where the organization is going. A. Builds Buy In.

One of the most valuable things a law help website can have is buy in, in the mission of the website. With that funding and support are not far behind.

Builds Consensus Enables funders, staff, and stakeholders to feel

like they have ownership and a stake in the plan to ensure everyone can work together towards the same goals.

A.



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Building Buy In Perhaps the most important part of strategic

planning is building buy in with your funders and stakeholders.

It is essential to show each and every party how your goals can also help them achieve their goals.

Data is essential in this pursuit.

You can use data to show the reach of your website and its potential use as a way to increase outreach and services to the target audience.

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TexasLawHelp: Analytics

In 2014, 1,157,865 unique people have

visited the website.

This is a 41.78% increase over 2013.

An est. 119% increase over 2012.

In 2014, TexasLawHelp has had 6,851,790

page views, which is a 14.39% increase

over 2013.

An est. 37.07% increase over 2012.

TexasLawHelp: Building Buy In

I used that data to show funders and stakeholders that TexasLawHelp was worth investing in.

Showed the growth that has already taken place, the opportunities for outreach, and providing real and effective services to low income Texans.

This in turn produced more buy in from stakeholders and our funder.

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Strategic Planning Process -

TexasLawHelp

Step 1: Orientation and Mission - Identify

Audience and/or End user, and examine

our overall mission to ensure it serves the

needs of the end user.

Q: Who is the primary user of

TexasLawHelp?

A: Low income Texans going through the

court system without lawyers.

Self Represented Litigants

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TexasLawHelp

Step 2: Honest Assessment - Conduct a complete and honest assessment of TexasLawHelp to find out if we are meeting the needs of the end user by asking a few fundamental questions:

What we are doing well?

What needs to be removed?

What can be improved?

What do our survey responses and data indicate?

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TexasLawHelp

Step 3: Brainstorm Using the answers from

the previous two steps, brainstorm ways to

meet the needs of the end user better,

changes needed on the website, and

new features to be added.

Example: We found that users are having

trouble finding the correct information and

are taking steps to correct that.

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TexasLawHelp

Step 4: Communicate - Set up an initial and subsequent planning meetings with funders and stakeholders so that all voices can be heard and consensus can be reached.

For example, the TexasLawHelp Advisory Board had not been formed when we initially did our strategic plan. We formed our strategic plan in consultation with representatives from the TAJF board. We will be revising our strategic plan with further input from the TLH Advisory Board going forward.

73


TexasLawHelp

Step 5: Rough Draft and Revise – Write out

an initial rough draft of a strategic plan

and have at least two rounds of revisions

amongst the working group.

Make sure to revise the plan in light of

concerns of members of the working group.

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TexasLawHelp

Step 6: Approval, Milestones, and

Scheduling

Get the strategic plan approved by the

working group.

Break the plan out into specific milestones.

From these milestones make an easy to

understand at a glance schedule to guide

actions going forward.

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TexasLawHelp

Step 7: Execution and Adjustment

Using the strategic plan , milestones, and

schedule start executing on the plan.

Make adjustments in light of changing

conditions as needed.

A strategic plan is only a guiding document

and you must make reasonable and

needed adjustments in light of real world

concerns.

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STRATEGIC PLANNING – SELF REPRESENTED LITIGANTS PROJECT – MILESTONES

AT A GLANCE CALENDAR

ELLIOTT FONTENETTE – MANAGING ATTORNEY

January 2015 3 new preventative publications posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

Legal Aid Clinic Calendar posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

First outreach for Live Help Volunteer Program.

Remote Legal Aid Clinic – Planning and Scoping.

TexasLawHelp.org Monthly Update E-Mail sent out.

February 2015 New Content Guidelines distributed to content providing shareholders.

Language Access Mini Portals Posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

3 new preventative publications posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

Updated and Expanded Child Support Calculator Posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

A2J Divorce Forms with and without children updated and posted to TexasLawHelp.org.


TexasLawHelp e-mail list serve launched.

March 2015 Topic and Sub Topic Reorganization


Location and Date for Remote Clinic Set.


April 2015 3 new preventative publications posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

Date Calculator Tool Posted to TexasLawHelp.org.


May 2015 3 new preventative publications posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

A2J Interactive Name Change of Adult and Minor Forms posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

Remote Legal Clinic Attorneys confirmed and Committed.


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June 2015 3 new preventative publications posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

Interactive Visitation Calendar posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

6 Go animate videos posted to TexasLawHelp.org and TexasLawHelp YouTube Channel.

Extensive Promotion for the Remote Legal Aid Clinic will take place.


July 2015 Extensive Promotion for the Remote Legal Aid Clinic will take place.



August 2015 3 new preventative publications posted to TexasLawHelp.org.

Currently available TexasLawHelp produced videos updated and posted to TexasLawHelp.org and YouTube.



September 2015 3 Legal Aid Testimonial Videos Posted to TexasLawHelp and Made Available to Corresponding Legal Aid Organizations.




October 2015 Extensive Promotion for the Remote Legal Aid Clinic will take place.



November 2015 A2J Interactive Modification Kit posted to TexasLawHelp.org

TexasLawHelp Website Redesign Done and Posted to Internet.

Will include posting the results of web development work done as well.




December 2015 6 Go Animate Videos posted to TexasLawHelp.org and TexasLawHelp’s YouTube Channel.

Remote Legal Aid Clinic Takes Place.



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Ongoing Throughout 2015 Ongoing Content Review - High Priority throughout the Year

Remove redundant and low demand information. Ensure easily understood legal citation is present in information presented on

TexasLawHelp.org. State Bar of Texas Language Access Translation Fund – Continued use by SRLP, for

TexasLawHelp.org in 2015. SRLP will continue to find other already available self-help tools , and work to post them on

TexasLawHelp.org. SRLP will continue to work with other programs to see what other A2J interactive forms can

be posted to TexasLawHelp.org. Tyler Technology Steering Committee – SRLP will continue to work to ensure that Tyler

Technology forms benefit Pro Se Litigants and are posted to TexasLawHelp.org. SRLP will continue to serve as a hub for video production for Legal Aid and/or other Non

Profit organizations. SRLP will continue to search for and post existing good legal information videos. SRLP will continue to work with Pro Bono Net. SRLP will continue with Live Help Outreach. SRLP will continue to leverage Live Person technology to make program better. Google Ad Grants- continue utilizing for outreach for TexasLawHelp.org. SRLP will attend tradeshows to promote program services including TexasLawHelp.org. SRLP will have a continued focus on Social Media Marketing. TexasLawHelp.org Advisory Board will continue to meet.

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Thanks for Your Time

Please e-mail me at [email protected]

or call me at 512-477-6000 Ext. 109 if you

have any additional questions.

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mailto:[email protected]

Themes we are hearing

• Centrality of mobile strategies

• Interest in web services/API/content integration

• New approaches to content design & delivery of

training resources on statewide websites

• Growing interest in custom themes

• Interest in opportunities for new regional and state

partnerships

Looking ahead

What are your ideas for 2015 and beyond?

Thank you!

• Liz Keith - [email protected]

• Xander Karsten - [email protected]

• Jillian Theil - [email protected]

• Mirenda Meghelli- [email protected]

• Jennifer Singleton - [email protected]

• Danielle Rebar - [email protected]

• Elliott Fontenette - [email protected]

Additional materials at: probono.net/statewebsites

lsc technology initiative grant conference 2015 | law help

Technology

community wide trainings

community series

larger community

community trainingsjust

community training series

support survey

field support coordinator

configuration support