Access to Justice Foundation Meeting
August 9, 2024 via Zoom
Agenda & Materials
- Welcome and Introductions – Mr. McKinney
- Business Items
- Determination of Quorum-Mr. McKinney
- Approval of May Joint Board Retreat Minutes -Mr. McKinney
- Executive Committee action since last meeting (for information)
- Resolution to fund the Legal Aid Task Force
- Executive Committee action since last meeting (for information)
- Update on Form 990 -Mr. McKinney
- Finance Committee-Ms. Schild
- Approval of Financial Reports
- Investment/Endowment Statements (for information)
- Extension of current timely investment resolution to November 1, 2024
- Grants Committee – Ms. Rucker
- Proposed grant offer to the Bar of Arkansas (not to be confused with the Bar Association)
- Executive Director’s Report–Ms. Brenneman (for information)
- Access to Justice Month Kickoff – October 3rd, 6-9
- Ways to help:
- Sponsor or ask your firm to sponsor;
- Ask friends and colleagues to sponsor or buy a ticket;
- Share on social media;
- Submit a nomination for a pro bono award; or
- Buy a ticket.
- Ways to help:
- Legal Aid Task Force
- Consultant selected: Dr. Karama Neal
- First TF meeting held August 2nd at Our House
- Courthouse Kiosks
- 82 kiosks installed
- Probable next installs: Miller Co., Pope Co., Sevier Co. (2nd), and Johnson Co. (2nd)
- Access to Justice Month Kickoff – October 3rd, 6-9
- IOLTA Report-Ms. Parker (for information)
- IOLTA Trends – April, May, June 2024 comparison
- IOLTA Trends – June 2023 vs June 2024
- Preferred IOLTA Banks
- 29 banks paid 3.3% in June
- 34 have agreed to the new rate
- JP Morgan Chase has joined the preferred bank program
- Language Access and Free Legal Answers–Ms. Chavez (for information)
- CLE – U visas, T visas, and VAWA – October 17, 2024 at the Legal Aid Conference in Eureka Springs
- Presented by Edith Chavez, Amelia McGowan (Commission), Laura Ferner, and Andrea Walker (LAA)
- Free Legal Answers
- Metrics: 644 questions posted; 482 questions answered; 75% answer rate
- Virtual clinics: 12 completed this year and 9 scheduled
- In Person
- In partnership with Benton County Bar and YLS in NWA on Sept 2024. (Date and Time and location TBD)
- In Central Arkansas with YLS on September 2024 (Date and Time TBD)
- In Central Arkansas with Entergy on October 21 or 22
- FLA Presentations
- Central Arkansas Library System
- Mexican Consulate
- Language Access
- 126 translations completed and 4 pending
- Interpreter Exam Training
- 42 people registered (39 Marshallese speakers, 3 Spanish speakers)
- 12 people have continuously attended the trainings
- 4 trainings complete and 6 scheduled
- CLE – U visas, T visas, and VAWA – October 17, 2024 at the Legal Aid Conference in Eureka Springs
- Program Report – Ms. Douglas
- Pro Se Forms and User Testing
- Tested In Forma Pauperis at Our House on July 31, 2024
- Static PDF form with the new design features:
- designated answer spaces
- under-line explanations
- legibility optimizations (layout, 13 pt font size)
- New in-document instructions
- New interactive online form
- Static PDF form with the new design features:
- Findings
- Fewer mistakes with online interactive forms
- Most preferred the online form
- Need more bite-sized instructions
- Need more clarification on financial terms (dependents, inheritance, etc.)
- Tested In Forma Pauperis at Our House on July 31, 2024
- Researching the implementation of a chatbot for the kiosks and arlawhelp.org
- Purpose: to lead users to the correct pro se forms and instructions
- Progress:
- Tested the idea on Formless
- Negotiating with Ai.law
- Researching other available systems and ethical considerations
- Creation of Courthouse Kiosk Internal Resource Hub
- Allows clerks and court staff to send kiosk tech requests, access quick links to printable forms, request materials (FLA flyers, signs, etc.), request copies of the Legal information vs Legal Advice guide, and request form translations
- Upcoming CLEs
- August 30th at Noon via Zoom: Debt Collection 101: Ethical Considerations & Practical Guidance
- September 27th at Noon via Zoom: Estate Planning Advanced Topics
- October 17th at Legal Aid Conference: U visas, T visas, and VAWA
- Pro Se Forms and User Testing
- Next Meeting Date: November 1, 12 pm
- Meeting Adjourned
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