Update from the Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission

This past year, the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission released its fourth strategic plan. The 2016 Plan outlines the path the commission will take over the next two years to position itself as an integral and coordinating part of the access to justice culture in Tennessee.

The 2016 Plan recognizes that the commission is entering a new phase in its existence and is no longer new to the access to justice community. It is recognized for initiatives such as the Tennessee Faith & Justice Alliance (TFJA), the Attorney for Justice pro bono recognition program, and the development of resources for disadvantaged Tennesseans who must represent themselves in court. The 2016 Plan builds upon these successes and describes new opportunities the commission will develop.

Educating the Public

An impressive number of goals are included in the 2016 Plan that are grouped into four themes. The first is educating the public on existing legal resources and increasing usage of those resources. This theme tracks with the commission’s prior work on centralizing legal resources under one website, www.Help4TN.org, and re-branding the legal information line to 1-844-Help4TN. Building on this theme, the commission is leading a project to create a statewide communications plan with legal aid and access to justice programs.

Legal Clinics

The second theme involves using existing projects to target the needs of disadvantaged Tennesseans in rural areas. The commission continues its clinic expansion project to have at least one recurring pro bono legal advice clinic in each of the 31 judicial districts. Currently 26 judicial districts have recurring clinics. The Tennessee Faith & Justice Alliance will help faith leaders in rural areas connect their congregants with appropriate legal help.

Technology

Increasing the use of technology to inform and connect the public with resources and improve the experience of self-represented litigants is the third theme. The commission is working to have court kiosks available in at least 10 locations by March 2018. It is also moving forward with a forms automation project and creating new educational videos.

Family Law and Mediation

Increasing pro bono opportunities, specifically for family law matters and mediation, is the fourth theme. The commission aims to increase the number of attorneys recognized as Attorneys for Justice and the number of law firms with pro bono policies. It created an Advisory Committee focused on family law, the first time for a committee to be devoted to a substantive area of law. And the commission will facilitate Mediator of the Day programs across the state and foster its partnership with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission to increase pro bono mediation.

These are just a sample of the many achievable goals included in the 2016 Plan. The commission is confident it will accomplish them with the continued support of the Supreme Court, the TBA, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and countless other strategic partners.
 

Marcia Eason, an attorney with Miller &?Martin PLLC in Chattanooga, is chair of the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. Anne-Louise Wirthlin is the court’s access to justice coordinator.