Webinar: SRLN/MD People's Law Library/JustAdvice® Clinic: Learning from Each Other (SRLN 2015)

Tuesday, April 21, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern  Panelists: Leigh Maddox, Dave Pantzer Moderator: Michael Beirnard

Program Description:

The “Access to Justice” challenge can be summed up in this way:  While the cost of expert legal help is out of reach for many, the legal process itself seems opaque – difficult for ordinary people to navigate or even fully understand.

There are many possible ways to help.  Two obvious ones are these: make legal help more affordable (so more people can work with attorneys); and make the legal process more navigable (so the system can more efficiently produce good outcomes, even when people “go it alone.”)  But while these missions are distinct, they do not conflict with each other.

Justice is best served when people (even those with attorneys) can access clear, reliable information, and can understand the law and its processes.  But it’s impossible to provide “clear information” about the law without deeply understanding the perspectives of the real people walking in the courthouse doors.

The JustAdvice® Clinic and the Maryland People’s Law Library have developed (and continue to refine) a model that allows each to learn from the other:  In addition to managing a mobile law firm, students learn about clear writing, and how to create and edit reliable, neutral explanations of Maryland law.  And the People’s Law Library gains a dedicated partner in maintaining the information, as well as valuable insight into the legal needs and informational habits of those we serve.

In this webinar, we’ll share our model and discuss what we’ve learned during the first year.  By talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly, we’ll let you evaluate and consider how a similar model could serve your needs.  But we also want to hear from you, and learn from your successes in government-academic partnerships, in developing the habits of clear communication, and in collecting meaningful data on the legal needs of the public.

You may view the full recorded webinar below.

You may download the webinar slides at the link below.

View webinar slides here

About the Panelists:

Leigh Maddox is a Clinical Professor with the University of Maryland, Carey School of Law. Her teaching and scholarship center on providing brief legal advice to the working poor and challenging the systemic underpinnings of current drug policies. She manages the nationally recognized JustAdvice® Clinic, a law firm on wheels, run by student attorneys and staffed by volunteer attorneys, social work students and medical students. To date, more than 3000 clients have been served in over 16 communities in Baltimore City and the lower eastern shore of Maryland. A retired captain with the Maryland State Police, Leigh serves on the board of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and has been an active voice for drug policy reform. She currently resides in Harford County, Maryland, and is a staunch supporter and enthusiast of the Chesapeake Bay.
 
Dave Pantzer manages the Maryland People’s Law Library, leading a network of volunteer attorneys, librarians, government employees and students, who create, edit, and update legal information articles.  Dave also teaches undergraduate law at Towson University, and provides training on Plain Language legal writing for law students and attorneys.  Dave previously worked as an attorney-advisor for the Social Security Administration and as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Michael J. Stamm.  Dave serves on the board of the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland; chairs the Pro Bono Coordinating Committee; serves as vice-chair of the Maryland State Bar Association Section on the Delivery of Legal Services; and serves on the nominating committee of the Maryland Christian Legal Society.