Talk Justice, an LSC Podcast: Creative Legal Services Outreach by Bus, Kayak and Kiosk
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Carl Rauscher
Director of Communications and Media Relations
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202-295-1615
WASHINGTON–Legal services providers discuss their creative outreach methods to promote access to the courts on the latest episode of LSC's “Talk Justice” podcast, released today. Talk Justice Co-host Molly McDonough, a veteran legal journalist and communications professional, moderates the conversation with guests Dori Rapaport, executive director of Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota; David Estep, supervising attorney at Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV); and Jeanne Robison, Salt Lake City Justice Court Judge.
Rapaport’s service area in northeastern Minnesota is very rural. When the pandemic led to virtual court, it became apparent that many people in the region were not equipped to participate online. The Minnesota Legal Services Coalition came together to submit a CARES Act funding request and received $3.5 million to create a technological infrastructure including 250 legal kiosks and four justice buses, which serve as mobile legal aid offices.
“We had to bring technology and internet access and equipment for people to be able to meaningfully engage in court, and we had to give them an opportunity to apply for legal services,” says Rapaport.
Domestic violence centers, homeless shelters, libraries and other organizations agreed to host kiosks where Minnesotans could complete applications for legal services, scan and print documents, meet with their lawyers virtually or attend Zoom court.
Judge Robison explains that Salt Lake City has also developed new ways to serve people in remote areas. To reach people living in encampments along the Jordan River, the court has taken to kayaks, canoes and bicycles. The monthly effort is a collaboration among the court, social services agencies, local nonprofits, volunteer defense attorneys, the Salt Lake City District Attorney’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office.
“We're cognizant that we're going to where people are living—we let the trauma informed social workers or outreach workers go first and say, ‘is there anything that we can help you with?’ And also, ‘the court is here if you have cases you want to have addressed.’ And if they say no, everybody moves on by and doesn't engage,” says Judge Robison.
“But if the person does have criminal cases that they want to address, then the court is there to address them, and that removes barriers,” Judge Robison continues. “If we catch people at the right time, when they are actively working to move towards being self-sufficient, then removing warrants and adjudicating cases can remove barriers from them accepting housing vouchers, accepting employment, having benefits started or reinstated.”
To support their creative outreach efforts, LAWV made a concerted push to attend public events over the summer, participating in 10 different gatherings including family resource fairs, a fall festival that brought resources to the homeless population and even a music concert. Estep says that it has prompted a noticeable uptick in cases brought to LAWV’s doors.
“It allows [people in need] to have exposure to us to let them know that we are here and that we can help them with their issues, “says Estep. “But, it also allows us to have exposure with the social services organizations to let them know that we're on the same team and we all want the same thing and it helps us work together better.”
Talk Justice episodes are available online and on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple and other popular podcast apps. The podcast is sponsored by LSC’s Leaders Council.
The next episode of the podcast will feature Amanda Brown of Lagniappe Law Lab talking with host Cat Moon about the Legal Access Points project in Louisiana.