Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project

Data Analysis Tool For All

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Origins of DATA

In 2023, the Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project partnered with Rachel J. Perry of Strategic Data Analytics to update and completely overhaul the Data Analysis Framework (DAF). The Data Analysis Tool for All, or DATA, is the product of that process.

The original Framework was developed through a partnership between the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (LASC), Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA), Strategic Data Analytics, the Northeast Ohio Data Collaborative, and Cleveland State University with funding through a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Technology Initiatives Grant (TIG) that ran from October 2013 to September 2015. That project aimed to develop data analysis strategies to enhance client service effectiveness and organizational efficiencies for Cleveland Legal Aid and Montana Legal Services in their efforts to better serve vulnerable populations. The Data Analysis Framework was created so that other organizations could also begin using their data in similar ways.

DATA builds on that foundation but has been completely overhauled to be more intuitive and more detailed. DATA has also been updated with current examples of real data from legal aid organizations. DATA is structured around a comprehensive set of data questions and provides detailed guidance on answering those questions through various types of analyses, including:

  • Snapshots
  • Comparisons
  • Trend analyses
  • Geographic distribution analyses
  • Geographic concentration analyses

DATA includes instructions and templates for high-level data questions related to counts and trends as well as in-depth analyses of data relationships and patterns. The tool also offers clear guidance on the types of data required to perform these analyses. Its design ensures accessibility for organizations at all levels of data proficiency. Whether an organization is just beginning to explore its data or is experienced in sophisticated analyses, DATA provides valuable insights and actionable strategies.

Rachel Perry’s collaboration with LSNTAP on this updated tool underscores its relevance and utility across the legal aid community, as she has worked for and with legal aid organizations since 2010. By integrating modern methodologies and user-friendly features, DATA helps legal aid organizations harness their data to enhance services, increase efficiency, and achieve measurable impacts for the communities they serve.