As a follow-up to the 2013 Technology Survey and 2018 Technology Survey, the Permanent Commission has partnered with the Legal Services Corporation's Office of Data Governance and Analysis to conduct a 2023 New York State Civil Legal Aid Technology Survey. Providers all over the state were asked to participate and share their current state of technology implementation by responding to the approximately 35-question survey.
About the Survey
The 2023 Technology Survey asked questions about budget, staffing, training, policies, cybersecurity, hardware and software, and service delivery. Additional questions about remote working and cybersecurity also were included, as these topics became primary concerns during and following the pandemic. The Office of Data Governance and Analysis analyzed the data, including comparisons to the 2013 and 2018 survey results. The findings are presented in the Commission's 2025 Technology Report.
Recommendations
Based on an analysis of the survey findings, the Permanent Commission made the following recommendations in its 2025 Technology Report:
- Increase Funding for Technology: Address the funding shortfall that limits organizations’ ability to invest in necessary technology, particularly in cybersecurity and cloud-based infrastructure.
- Expand Online Intake Systems: Only 40% of organizations provide online intake options. Increasing this capacity would enhance client access to legal aid providers and reduce administrative burdens.
- Improve Cybersecurity Training: There is a critical need to offer comprehensive cybersecurity training to all staff as human error will always be a significant vulnerability and cybersecurity threats are increasing in sophistication and frequency.
- Focus on Staffing: Organizations need dedicated technology staff to maintain and develop their systems since reliance solely on external consultants presents limitations, e.g. the ability to respond swiftly to technological issues.
Acknowledgements
The Commission thanks the 2023 Survey Planning Committee for their assistance with the survey:
- Sarah Abdelhadi, Research Associate, Legal Services Corporation, Office of Data Governance and Analysis (fmr. Staff member)
- Helaine Barnett, Chair Emerita, Permanent Commission on Access to Justice
- Glenn Baum, Data & Technology Training Manager at the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.
- Christine M. Fecko, Executive Director, NYS IOLA Fund
- Colleen Finan Fehringer, Deputy Director of Grant Administration, NYS IOLA Fund
- John Greiner, Founder & CEO, Just-Tech
- Rochelle Klempner, Office of Court Administration Counsel to the Technology Working Group (Ret.)
- Scott D. Musoff, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates
- Christopher Schwartz, Community Empowerment Advisor, LegalServer
- Holly R. Stevens, PH.D., Chief Data Officer, Legal Services Corporation, Office of Data Governance and Analysis
- Deborah Wright, Chair, Technology Working Group