Link from Richard Zorza’s inimitable Access to Justice blog: A Cautionary Tale — Cartoon Points Out the Downsides of Automated Courts
Access to justice and court systems broken (and broke)?
“If our courts are broke, how can Californians get divorced? An idea,” by Ted Rall:
When you rely on a judicial opinion to support your cause, which version of the case do you carry into court? This is the 21st century law librarian and bench-bar dilemma.
Even if you solve the authenticity and and copyright problems (and we’re nowhere near doing that), what are we going to do about the Supreme Court?
See, “Final Word on U.S. Law Isn’t: Supreme Court Keeps Editing,” by Adam Liptak, May 24, 2014 (re the upcoming article, “The (Non)Finality of Supreme Court Opinions,” by Richard J. Lazarus, 128 HARV. L. REV. ___ (forthcoming 2014)).
From the Sacramento County Law Library, which has an excellent collection of legal research and self-help resources, you can find this very funny, but also very realistic video of a legal reference or self-help interview:
(You can also find the SACLAW Law Librarians on Twitter.)
Legal self-help is a bit of a crap-shoot unless you have official (i.e. court sanctioned and current) legal forms or the guiding hand of an attorney, but sometimes one has to plug along the best one can.
Public law librarians not infrequently get requests for legal separation forms. Oregon has, rather had, legal separation forms, and still, sort of, does have them. But, well, read on:
Disclaimer! Warning!
The Legal Forms Problem bedevils most states, even those with active statewide Access to Justice Commissions (Oregon does not have one). Some states are tackling the legal forms problem head on with gusto and with Statewide Legal Forms Committees (see also the legal forms program presentations at the ABA Equal Justice website – there was an excellent one a couple weeks ago on the Washington State Legal Forms initiative).
See the ABA Resource Center for Access to Justice Initiatives and the Access to Justice blog for information and news about these A2J commissions and initiatives.
From 3 Geeks and a Law Blog, 4/22/14, post: “LegalZoom Gets Nod from South Carolina Supreme Court”
View the Oregon State Bar (OSB) videotape of our program:
1) Direct to the video: ALL RISE! TAKE YOUR CASE TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT
2) Or, from the Oregon State Bar (OSB) website (where you can also find their “30-second Law School” consumer and other Oregon law tips!).
We have updated our Oregon Legal Assistance Resource Guide.
We have expanded its reach beyond the Portland-metro area so new resources have been added – and you are welcome to suggest additions.
Link to the PDF or link to it from our What’s New webpage.
Online ABA Journal article: “Estate dispute caused by ‘E-Z Legal Form’ is a ‘cautionary tale,’ says justice,” by Debra Cassens Weiss.
“Ann Aldrich used an “E-Z Legal Form” when she made out her will in 2004, a decision that proved to be a good choice for two nieces who cited the document’s lack of a residuary clause.
In a decision issued last week, the Florida Supreme Court ruled for the nieces, though they weren’t mentioned in the will. The court said money acquired by Aldrich after the will was made out should be distributed under the laws of intestacy, which govern distribution of property for those who die without a will. The reason: The E-Z form did not have a residuary clause providing for the disposition of property not listed in the document….” [Link to full article.]
“He who is always his own counseller will often have a fool for his client.” [Source: Shapiro, “The Oxford Dictionary of American Legal Quotations,” citing Port Folio (Philadelphia, Aug. 1809, at 132.]
Not a day goes by when I don’t:
1) Read about someone who made a BIG mistake thinking s/he knew everything about drafting contracts, wills, and other legal documents.
The Oregon Law Center is a legal aid based program that provides free services to low-income people throughout the state. Project SCRUB provides low-income Washington County residents with legal and financial assistance to expunge their criminal records, helping to remove the barriers that can prevent them from finding jobs and housing. The volunteer pro bono attorney will assist with filling out legal documents and advising clients on the expungement process.
Contact the: Oregon Law Center, (503) 640-4115
(Note: This project has grant funding through June 2014, which may or not be renewed.)
Oregon Legal Research Blog