In 2013, the Technology Working Group issued an 87-question online Technology Survey to approximately 80 legal service providers that assist low-income New Yorkers. Approximately 70 providers answered the Survey, with operating budgets ranging in size from $60,000 to $200,000 and working in communities throughout New York State. The 2013 Technology Survey asked questions about advocacy, training, policies, goals, budget, operations, and data management.
Findings
The overall data revealed that most legal service providers had not sufficiently embraced and integrated technology into their day-to-day internal operations and client service delivery systems. For example, many providers did not have IT staff or a help desk; there was no wide support for mobile technology; routine technology needs were not included in fiscal planning; and technology was not leveraged sufficiently in the development of advocacy projects.
The Working Group concluded that legal service providers were not simply ignoring the need for technology in the workplace; rather, many were caught between the need to fully equip their advocates with common technology and the financial constraints of absolute dollars, grant conditions and contract limitations on technology expense. Analysis of the 2013 survey data is contained in the Technology Working Group's 2013 Report.
Recommendations and Results
As a result of the survey findings, the Permanent Commission (then known as the Task Force on Access to Justice), made recommendations in its 2013 Annual Report regarding staffing, policies, funding, advocacy, training and social media. The recommendations were divided into urgent needs, medium needs, and long-term planning, to assist providers in maximizing the use of technology to increase access to justice and enhance client services.
A number of initiatives to assist the provider community were implemented, including, the creation of a technology assistance project between pro bono IT professionals from leading law firms and civil legal aid providers to assess technology needs and provide training, and the establishment of an annual New York Statewide Civil Legal Aid Technology Conference to educate civil legal services leaders on how technology can improve the delivery of legal services and the efficiency of their operations, and to promote collaborative use of technology among providers.