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About Illinois Legal Aid Online’s Automated Documents Project

Goals Create a core library of automated documents for legal aid and pro bono attorneys Provide pro se litigants and others with means to create correct, complete, and neat forms and letters appropriate to address their legal needs. About Illinois Legal Aid Online’s Automated Documents Project.

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About Illinois Legal Aid Online’s Automated Documents Project

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  1. Goals Create a core library of automated documents for legal aid and pro bono attorneys Provide pro se litigants and others with means to create correct, complete, and neat forms and letters appropriate to address their legal needs About Illinois Legal Aid Online’s Automated Documents Project

  2. What are Automated Documents? • For our purposes – online programs that allow individuals to quickly and accurately create completed legal forms and documents

  3. How Can Automated Documents Help Legal Aid Attorneys? • Speed, speed, speed… • Cut your form preparation time in half? Depending on the form set, that is very possible • “Intelligent Interviewing” – online programs are “smart”, asking questions depending on the answers you have already given and eliminating questions • Of course, that means… More advocacy, more capacity, and less time spent creating forms • Allowing attorneys to concentrate on the things that brought them to legal aid…

  4. Why are Automated Documents Important to Legal Aid Attorneys (Cont.) • Accessibility • Have all your forms, for every scenario, in one place • Quality Assurance • Correct, complete and standardized • “Capture” the knowledge of your most experienced advocates • Substantial Benefits for Newly Hired Attorneys and New Volunteers • Many such programs provide help screens and explanatory text

  5. What Programs Do We Use? • Two tools that are used nationally in legal aid • LexisNexis’ HotDocs • A2J Author

  6. HotDocs • Great for high-use processes • Generally, the preferred program for advocate-focused document assembly Example Screenshot

  7. A2J Author • Simple user interface • Better for pro se forms and processes and volunteer-focused projects Example Screenshot

  8. How Does It Work? 2. After completing the interview, an answer file is sent to the server • Fill out a HotDocs interview from • www.illinoislegaladvocate.org 3. The server takes the answer file apart and populates the document 4. The files are then downloaded to your machine - where you can save and print them

  9. More About the Server • Formally named “National Public Automated Documents Online” Server, or “NPADO” • Legal Services Corporation-funded resource • Used by legal aid organizations across the country • Contains all of the “back end” document assembly templates

  10. What Types of Files are Generated? • Two different types, depending on the particular program • .rtf files (Rich Text Format) • Similar to a MS Word file, can be opened in MS Word, WordPerfect, or OpenOffice • .pdf files (Portable Document Format) • Can be opened by Adobe Acrobat Reader (available for free)

  11. What Do I Need to Access These Tools? • Computer • Connection to the internet and Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher • Programs to open the completed documents • Microsoft Word and/or an Open Source equivalent • Adobe Acrobat Reader

  12. Where are the Automated Documents? • Automated documents for use by attorneys representing clients are available through both www.illinoislegaladvocate.org and www.illinoisprobono.org. • Users must register for an ILAO account in order to access the automated documents • Users must register separately on NPADO in order to save answer files for re-use. • Automated documents for use by the public are on www.illinoislegalaid.org

  13. The Automated Documents Menu

  14. Find Automated Documents by Searching

  15. Finding Automated Documents on the Public Website • Automated documents are not searchable on the public website • We have created a “form library” screen where Self-Help Center navigators and others assisting pro se litigants can find all public automated documents

  16. Form Library

  17. Within Topical “Guide Me”

  18. An Example: Divorce

  19. An Example: Divorce (Cont.) Select the Documents You Need

  20. An Example: Divorce (Cont.)

  21. An Example: Divorce (Cont.) The Completed Document…

  22. What Programs Does ILAO Have Online for Advocates? • Forms, Letters and Pleadings for: • Divorce • Adoption • Lockout Case Letters and Pleadings • Motion to Stay Eviction • Durable Powers of Attorney • Civil Procedure Pleadings and Forms • Simple Will • Discovery Packet • Vehicle Deficiency Suit Defense • Hospital Bill Defense

  23. A2J Example

  24. What Programs Does ILAO Have for Pro Se Litigants? • Forms, Letters and Pleadings for: • Fee Waiver/ 298 Petition • Divorce • Name Change • Order of Protection (for use outside of Cook County) • Power of Attorney for Health Care and Property • Security Deposit Complaint and Demand Letters • Judgment Collection Forms • Letters Credit Card Cos., Banks, Insurance Cos., Credit Reporting Agencies to Report Identity Theft …and many more on www.IllinoisLegalAid.org

  25. How Can Your Program Participate in this Project? • Automated Documents Advisory Group • Assist in selecting and prioritizing documents to automate • Substantive Expertise • Assist in developing appropriate interviews and process flow • Testing • Help test automated documents prior to publication • Pilot Users • Help evaluate use of automated documents in daily practice

  26. Thank You! For further information, contact: Mary K. Neal Automated Documents Project Manager 312-977-9047 x18 mneal@illinoislegalaid.org

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