Open Source Law Office
Project Description:
The project includes a private family law practice that partners with Missoula YWCA, the state bar and others to handle LSC-eligible pro bono referrals and ongoing projects of value to low-income communities.
The law practice uses a local area network and remote host that uses free or open source software. The office productivity suite is Open Office 3.1. The linux operating system is Ubuntu 9.10.
Legal forms, correspondence, federal and state court filings, legal research and more are done with open source code. Bookkeeping and billing is done using Open Office spreadsheets.
The goal is to improve professional service delivery to low-income communities using open source code by reducing administrative costs, promoting IT literacy for staff and client populations and improving efficiency.
Outcomes are measured by numbers of clients served and licensing, skills improved and reduced administrative costs.
If you are interested in using open source to help low income people, manage professional offices or conserve nonprofit resources, please email comments, questions or ideas to mjewell@openmissoula.org.
A website is also sponsored to support adoption of free and open source software by professionals in small offices: http://www.openmissoula.org.
State:
MT
Funding:
Other
Tech Library:
