Technology

This page offers visual data on technology use in legal service organizations, including software usage, legal research, and automated documents.

This page's data highlights the number of grantees using each of the major operating systems, internet browsers, email service providers, and accounting software.

The graphs on this page show grantee usage pertaining to connectivity of computers within grantee organizations,  strategies for server hosting, and use of VPN, virtualization, remote access, video conferencing, and internet access.

LSC encourages organizations to engage in comprehensive technology planning that covers current and planned uses of IT in all facets of program operations, including how the program is using and will use technology to innovate and improve processes. Programs should consult the document, “Technologies That Should Be in Place in a Legal Aid Office Today”—which was originally published by LSC in 2008, revised in 2015, now updated again in 2023—when preparing their technology plans. The document defines the technology capacities that its grantees should have in place or have available to them through a vendor or partner in the access to justice community. It also includes baselines for new technologies, including mobile devices, cloud computing, social media and enhanced security policies, as well as updated resources, useful websites, and other tools.

Click below to access an archive of technology plans from LSC grantees.

This PDF resource offers LSC grantees an overview of GIS mapping and how they can use it to better assist clients.

Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project (LSNTAP) is a web portal to technology services and information tailored to a legal services audience. It conducts numerous training and webinars each year, and the upcoming ones are posted on LSNTAP’s website.

LSC grantees can create online intake forms using the below tools.

• LawHelp Interactive incorporates A2J Author software as an optional interface to collect data. A2J incorporates website standards for low-literacy users, including graphics, to effectively guide self-represented individuals through the process of assembling legal documents. A2J is also utilized in many legal aid online intake initiatives.

• HotDocs is an industry-leading document assembly application that is available to legal services programs at a negotiated nonprofit discount through HotDocs Limited. Programs have leveraged the HotDocs software to provide legal aid clients and advocates thousands of automated legal documents. 

• Document Assembly Best Practices Guide for Court System Development and Implementation Using A2J Author: Developed by the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program, this best practices guide advocates for court systems to take a leadership role in the creation of document assembly programs that can enhance access to justice and improve overall court operations. The best practices section focuses on issues such as technical development, partnerships, statewide uniformity of documents, e-filing, and ethical considerations. The guide also provides a road map for courts seeking to utilize document assembly services to improve assistance to the unrepresented public.

Below are several LSC-funded statewide website platform tools.

• LawHelp.org is the national gateway to the LSC-funded statewide website network. Through LawHelp, legal aid clients, advocates, and partners can access links to all the statewide websites for the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. A Spanish version of the LawHelp.org gateway page is also available. Pro Bono Net has developed the LawHelp.org template. 

• Drupal for Legal Aid Websites (DLAW) is a free and open-source website management software built specifically for legal aid organizations.

• LawHelp Interactive Computer Station Best Practices for Self-Help Centers: This resource provides best practices for any legal aid organization, law library, library, police department, victims center, shelter, or court to set up a self-help center. It includes diagrams, workstation requirements, and signage tips that help minimize distractions for self-represented litigants to support the completion of forms and to help users feel secure in their use of the computers.

• LiveHelp Administrator’s Toolkit: LiveHelp is a chat-based, real-time support service that helps people find legal resources and referral information on the LawHelp.org websites. LiveHelp has been launched in 11 states and assists more than 10,000 users annually. Pro Bono Net has compiled a toolkit and best practices for developing and maintaining a LiveHelp project on an access to justice website.

• ReadClearly and WriteClearly: OpenAdvocate’s ReadClearly and WriteClearly are free tools to optimize websites so clients can more easily understand and navigate them. ReadClearly enables website visitors to look up explanations for complex legal terms on a specific website; WriteClearly analyzes the reading grade level of a web page and makes suggestions for improving readability. Both projects were funded in part by LSC.