Diane Trunk, NLS – LA
Harry Jacobs, AOC - CFCC

• 20+ years of NLS Courthouse Clinics
• DASH: Partnership between NLS & L.A.
Superior Court
• Self-Help
◦ Individual assistance
◦ Attorney review of all forms

 4 clinics.
 Across 100 miles of L.A.
 Over 4,500 litigants annually.
 1 staff attorney.

1. Fill out each form using Essential Forms
2. Print forms
3. Litigant reviews forms
4. Fax forms to off-site attorney
5. Attorney reviews forms (40+ pages each)
6. Attorney calls volunteer for changes
7. Volunteer makes changes
8. (Forms re-faxed for more review)
9. Litigant signs forms

Logos and Graphics Basics
 Collaboration of
ProBonoNet, LSC, SJI,
and Capsoft
 ProbonoNet provides:
◦ day-to-day management
◦ Operates Web server.
◦ Provides training and
support.
 In use in 28 states.

www.courtinfo.ca.gov/
programs/equalaccess/
dash.htm

 Program intended for use by Litigants:
TurboTax, ICAN!, EzLegalFile
 Programs intended for use by Legal
Professionals: Essential Forms, ProDocs
 Program intended for use by both
volunteers/litigants and legal professionals to
work together at different (remote) locations.

 Usual suspects:
◦ Stretch limited resources,
◦ Solve DASH problems,
◦ Use important features of computers, and
◦ “Do no harm” (Don’t destroy what is good about the
current services.)
 Other (New) Goals:
◦ Increase lawyers ability to control volunteers.
◦ Increase participation of lawyers in the preparation
of the litigant paperwork.
◦ Improve lawyer’s ability to review papers and
declaration.

 The answer to every question can be used
consistently on every item on every form in
the filing.
◦ Not just caption information.
 Answers from one program’s interview can be
used in another program. Answers from the
DASH DVRO program can be used to:
◦ Start a Dissolution case
◦ Start a Parentage case

 If a custody order is requested, the program
automatically prints on the declaration: “I ask
the Court for the custody and visitation
orders described in the attached form DV-
105 because: “.
◦ (The volunteer is prompted to ask why the order is
needed.)
 If the volunteer indicates litigant needs an
interpreter, the program automatically prints
on the declaration: “I will need a [Spanish]
interpreter for all proceedings in this case.”

It speeds her review
of the forms. If she
sees that the “other
protected people”
are listed in DV-
100 Item 3, She
knows that they are
also listed on the
DV-110 and the
DV-130

 Word program produces an MS Word
document. Document is emailed to attorney
for review and editing.
 Sample Declaration
 Reviewer can change PDF forms by opening
PDF program and changing answers.

 Better quality declarations
 Consistent, accurate forms
 Faster forms preparation
 More time to prepare the declaration
 Program prints out litigant information
 Faster backup
 Easier backup
 Attorney can edit declaration directly.
 Mobile backup – not chained to fax.

 The program opens the possibility for an
attorney to assist many, many more litigants.
◦ Currently, the attorney/litigant ratio is generally
1:12. That is 36 litigants assisted in 3 hours --
with every declaration and form reviewed.
 DASH is recruiting pro bono attorneys for in-office
review of forms. (No need to drive to the clinic.)
 DASH is working with shelter advocates for off-site
forms preparation. Shelter advocate can use the program
and work with DASH attorneys or pro bono attorneys.
 Assistance could be available at night and on weekends.

 Requires a lot of upfront work. (Every field on
every form is filled out. Many “warning”
situation has be considered. The program is
always a work in progress.)
 The program slows down the process at first
as volunteers adjust to the new system.
 The program doesn’t eliminate the need to
for another program (like Essential Forms).

 Volunteers can be resistant to change.
Program doesn’t shorten the volunteers time
with a litigant, but it changes the focus of
interaction from paperwork to writing
declarations.
 This change:
◦ Emphasizes some skills (writing declarations);
◦ Deemphasizes other skills (operating Essential
Forms); and
◦ Requires New Training methods.

 DASH uses ProBonoNet’s server in Dayton,
Ohio everyday. The Internet, DASH’s network
connection, and the LawHelp Interactive
server can go down.
 Creating a project (DASH)/program (LHI)
requires village. It is a group project. It
requires a lot of communication.

 Where does it fit with other self-help service
models? (e.g., Litigant programs (e.g.,
EzLegalFile); Workshops)
◦ Declaration is very important.
◦ Legal Concepts for litigants are not complex or
difficult to teach.
◦ Volunteers/staff/shelter advocates/case workers
are available.
◦ Volume of paperwork is large.

 Guardianship
 Conservatorship
 Expungement of Criminal
Convictions
 Special Education
 Collections
 Native American Issues

 Courts could share experts in areas of law
that require special knowledge, but where
individual courts can’t afford to employ an
expert in a particular area of law.
 A single attorney/expert could use a program
to assist:
◦ Groups of Courts in a Region
◦ Entire State?

 Litigants Using Computers at Self-Help
Centers
 Litigants Using Computers Anywhere

 Diane Trunk: dianetrunk@nls-la.org
 Harry Jacobs: harry.jacobs@jud.ca.gov
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/equalaccess/dash.htm