Colorado Justice for All Strategic Action Plan
Strategic Planning Grant: 2016
Implementation Grant: 2018
Colorado’s plan priorities are to build up resource development, technology, triage, referral, channel integration, judicial and court staff education, and self-help information services. This includes enhancing services, including expanding full-service representation and limited scope representation. The state is focusing on system-completion innovations, including the simplification of forms and proceedings, and supporting role flexibility for non-lawyer professionals.
Its action plan includes:
- Creating an Access to Justice Coordinator and Steering Committee;
- Developing and disseminating an effective framework for communicating about the importance of the civil justice system and advocating for public and private funding for legal aid;
- Supporting the Colorado Legal Help Center;
- Providing technologically supported multi-door, multi-directional referrals;
- Developing training for court personnel and judicial officers working with self-represented litigants;
- Exploring the possibility of a civil right to counsel and expanding civil legal access in underserved and rural areas by providing support for rural attorneys and encouraging pro bono work;
- Supporting unbundled representation and alternative dispute resolution;
- Simplifying and standardizing processes and procedures and providing for language services integration; and
- Expanding navigator programs.
Its implementation projects include:
a. Developing an online multi-door, multi-directional triage and referral system to connect vulnerable adults (and their loved ones) to service providers with appropriate services.
b. Developing a robust triage, referral and channeling system to facilitate people with a legal problem getting into the system quickly and being directed to the appropriate level of meaningful service;
c. Expanding resources targeted at responding to people’s legal needs;
d. Increasing integration and coordination among key components of the ATJ system, from self-help assistance to full representation, as well as non-legal assistance and social services; and
e. Increasing communication to inform people of available legal services and increase public awareness of the importance to their community of an accessible civil justice system.
The pilot project is being implemented in two judicial districts, one rural (San Luis Valley – 12th Judicial District) and one urban (Colorado Springs – 4th Judicial District).
Point person: Katherine Schoen (State Bar of Colorado)