Toolkits

Introduction  

Introduction  This toolkit provides an overview of collaboration technologies that are commonly used across legal aid organizations. Included within are best practices and practical resources to support effective collaboration and communication.    

 

The legal aid community is constantly evolving to improve and expand its services. From document assembly libraries to case management systems, organizations are taking on projects that will increase efficiency and advance their missions. Project management is vital to this work. Project management reduces costs by improving efficiency, mitigating risks, and optimizing resources.  

Efficient knowledge management is crucial for the success of legal aid organizations. Our Knowledge Management Toolkit, created in collaboration with Idealware, the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP), and funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), provides a comprehensive guide to optimizing how your organization stores, shares, and retrieves critical information.

The legal services community has not been immune to cybersecurity incidents over the past years.  Indeed, a significant number of programs have been compromised and significantly impacted by cyber attacks each year.  As with the broader non-profit, business, and government communities, the incident rates and stakes are growing within our community.

The Texting for Outcomes Toolkit was created by the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to support programs in leveraging text messaging to gather outcome data following limited scope legal services. Legal service providers, statewide websites, and court self-help centers help self-represented litigants (SRLs) address a wide range of civil legal problems, including family law, landlord/tenant disputes, debt collection, and more. These limited services—offering advice at clinics, help with forms, and guidance on enforcing rights—play a vital role in bridging the justice gap in the United States.

Introduction

Legal Services Vermont (LSV) and Atlanta Legal Aid Society (ALAS) developed a web accessibility toolkit as part of their TIG-funded projects to enhance their statewide legal help websites. The organizations partnered with a consultant, David Berman Communications, to explore and implement best practices for making their website accessible to people with disabilities. This toolkit covers:

Telephones—including text messaging, email, and chat—are a common means for people to seek help, and hotlines are a common way legal services provide that help. The right technologies can make sure your organization provides advice, referrals, and services clients need efficiently and in line with your existing procedures for intake and confidentiality.