Creating Tools for Legal Literacy 

Presenter

Jessica Marie DiPietro

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Deborah Keisch, Department of Civic Engagement & Service-Learning, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C11, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

For centuries, the United States legal system has imposed and reinforced social inequalities by limiting access to law in marginalized communities. To address this, court service centers were established. My community partner, the Greenfield Court Service Center (GCSC), is dedicated to increasing access to legal information, aid, and justice free of charge. The services provided predominantly support undocumented individuals, ESL speakers, as well as low-income individuals, commonly referred to as self-represented litigants (SRLs). The CSC is staffed with attorneys, specialists, and interns who provide legal information and referrals. Staff members also aid SRLs in filling out their legal forms for current or new cases. Overall, CSCs work to dismantle the barriers preventing individuals from navigating the legal system. 

My project builds upon my work with the GCSC and the plain language movement to make legal literacy more accessible. My main objective is to make court forms more understandable and easier to complete for those underserved by the legal system. I selected some of the most commonly used forms at the GCSC and created annotated “how-twos” for them, providing SRLs with a simplified guide on how to fill out their court documents. The annotated forms are stored in a Google Drive, where those with a link can access them. The effectiveness of these “how-twos” will be evaluated through a Google form. In sum, I aim to provide SRLs with form support at any time and anywhere, and a sense of agency and empowerment through their legal proceedings.

Keywords

Legal Literacy , Legal Access , Plain Language movement , Social Justice

Research Area

Law and Legal Studies

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