by Sheila Fisher, Pennsylvania, 2005
In this day of dazzling graphics and special effects, clients, like all of us, expect something snazzy from a computerized program. Admittedly, HotDocs document assembly software used straight out-of-the-box will not inspire graphic innovations awards. It is a text-only program, but can incorporate hyperlinks to graphics-intensive web pages. While HotDocs it works very effectively for templates designed for use by legal services staff, it does not appear to have the usability components needed by pro se users.
However, HotDocs document assembly has several major advantages:
1. Web-Based: it can be web-based and can be integrated within statewide websites.
2. Free (with your labor) . Two copies of HotDocs licenses have been provided by LexisNexis. (For a list of who has licenses for your use in your state, see www.lstech.org.)
3. Support. Currently, there are trainings, resources, email lists, and workgroups set up to help legal aid persons interested in becoming “automators” (aka developers).
4. Robust Back-end. It is a robust back-end, which means it can support the development of simple and complicated forms, easily.
5. Snazzy Graphics Can Be Added via A2J. Automators of pro se templates are lucky to have an optional add-on interface to work with - the "A2J" software developed by the Justice Web Collaboratory of Chicago-Kent College of Law. This software collects data from pro se users and feeds it to the underlying HotDocs software to produce the legal forms. A2J utilizes caricatures of individuals on the screen, wending their way to a courthouse that appears to get closer as the interview proceeds. Questions appear in cartoon bubbles above the caricatures' heads, and audio tracks can let the user hear the questions in English or another language. Engaging but not childish, A2J breathes some life into otherwise dry text.
