LRI: Management: Planning: Needs Assessment

The Vermont Supreme Court formed a committee to identify the civil legal needs of low-income residents of Vermont as well as discern barriers that prevent access to the courts and legal services. This committee gathered information for this legal needs assessment through a four pronged approach: 1) conduct a telephone survey of low-income residents of Vermont 2) interview low-income individuals who do not own a telephone through social service agencies 3) survey members of the judiciary and court staff 4) survey practicing attorneys on their perceptions of low-income client needs.

The committee hired the Market Research and Consulting Division of ORC Macro to conduct a legal needs assessment study of low-income households throughout Vermont. ORC Macro conducted this study over the phone and surveyed low-income individuals about their civil legal needs and civil legal problems. Macro interviewed 436 adult respondents from Vermont who were identified as low income based on their income and family size. Eligible respondents were surveyed about the type of civil legal problems they encountered, how they resolved their problems, and whether or not they perceived the resolution as fair. Demographic information is included in the summary as well. ORC Macro estimates that this survey has 4.7 percent margin of error and a 95 percent level of confidence.

Realizing that many low-income residents of Vermont do not have phones, local social service agencies arranged for on-site interviews to ensure that low-income persons without a phone were included in this needs assessment study. In addition, Vermont Legal Aid set up and staffed a 1-800 number for persons without a phone to contact them in order to be included in this study.

The Vermont Supreme Court mailed surveys to the judiciary and court staff requesting information on the legal needs of the low-income residents of Vermont, the effectiveness of court policies, and their procedures for handling pro se litigants. These surveys also request suggestions on how to reduce barriers to the justice system for low-income individuals. These surveys went to judges, magistrates, court clerks, and other court employees.

With the assistance of the Vermont Bar Association, a survey was mailed to each practicing attorney in the state. This survey requested information on each attorney's perception of the legal needs of low-income Vermont residents as well as suggestions on how to eliminate barriers and improve service delivery to these individuals.

The results from these surveys and interviews brought to light some interesting data:

Low-income families in Vermont face more than 60,000 legal problems every year, from eviction and divorce to consumer problems and loss of government benefits. Very low-income households face significantly more legal problems than those with only slightly higher incomes.
Severe reductions in the amount of federal financial support, plus federally mandated service restrictions, have resulted in reduced levels of service by legal services organizations in Vermont, compromising the ability of the state's poorest citizens to obtain access to the judicial system. Many low-income Vermonters lack representation to protect essential rights such as housing and basic income.
75% of Vermont's low-income families faced their legal problem without help. This is true despite the fact that Vermont's existing legal services organizations maintain an effective, efficient system of delivering the reduced resources available. Low-income Vermonters who receive legal assistance are more likely to believe that they were fairly treated than those who do not.
88% of Vermonters believe that legal help for civil legal problems should be provided to poor Vermonters who need it. 81% support legislative funding for these services. Judges and lawyers also believe that the most effective solution to the unmet legal needs of the poor is increased funding for legal services.
Court staff are active and involved in helping low-income people to manage their legal problems. Simplified court forms and information written in plain English would also help significantly.
Many attorneys willingly provide generous amounts of pro bono services to low-income families. These voluntary contributions need to be encouraged, facilitated, and supported. Expanded attorney participation and improvement in coordination would increase the effectiveness of voluntary pro bono efforts.

To learn more about the methodology and conclusions reached through this legal needs assessment process, access the Interim Report and Summary as PDF documents by clicking on the text below.

Contact Information:

Thomas F. Garrett
Executive Director
Legal Services Law Line of Vermont
30 Elmwood Avenue
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: (802) 863-7153
Fax: (802) 651-4130
tgarrett@lawlinevt.org

Additional Information:

Planning

Needs Assessment Projects Publications Strategic Planning Annual Reports

Management

Overview Planning Loan Repayment Assistance Programs Training Materials Performance Measures & Outcomes Standards Evaluation & Studies Outreach Reference Manuals Client Centered Practices Legal Work Management