This document discusses the Domestic Abuse Self-Help (DASH) program, a partnership between Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLS-LA) and the Los Angeles Superior Court. DASH operates self-help clinics across LA County assisting over 4,500 litigants annually with forms and filings for domestic violence restraining orders. The document proposes a new computer program to improve the process of preparing court forms and declarations remotely with attorney review. Key goals are increasing lawyer participation and control over volunteers while preparing more complete paperwork faster. Challenges include the initial work required and adjusting volunteer roles, but benefits could include assisting more litigants and expanding to new legal areas.

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

2. • 20+ years of NLS Courthouse Clinics
• DASH: Partnership between NLS & L.A.
Superior Court
• Self-Help
◦ Individual assistance
◦ Attorney review of all forms

3.  4 clinics.
 Across 100 miles of L.A.
 Over 4,500 litigants annually.
 1 staff attorney.

5. 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

8. 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.

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

18.  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.

20.  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.

22.  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

30.  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.”

32. 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

33.  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.

35.  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.

36.  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.

37.  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).

38.  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.

39.  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.

41.  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.

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

43.  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?

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

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