The Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession and the Stanford Legal Design Lab have entered into a partnership with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, the nation’s largest trial court. The collaboration aims to design and implement innovative, evidence-based approaches to reduce barriers to participation in the judicial process and improve access to justice for all court users.
The partnership will focus on mapping barriers to full participation across the Superior Court, particularly in case types with a high proportion of self-represented litigants, such as unlawful detainer (eviction), child support, and debt collection actions. By raising participation rates and empowering court users, the initiative hopes to enable individuals to better navigate complex and often life-altering legal proceedings.
“All around the country, courts are recognizing that existing processes prevent litigants—whether represented or not—from accessing the justice system effectively,” David Freeman Engstrom, JD ’02, LSVF Professor in Law and co-director of the Rhode Center, noted. “The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is leading the way by systematically breaking down those barriers. We are proud to be assisting in that critical work.”
The collaboration was launched against a backdrop of growing numbers of small-scale, yet high-stakes cases involving self-represented litigants in state courts. Evidence points to the key role courts can play in addressing disparities in access to justice. Many court systems are bogged down by unnecessary complexity in court forms and disconnected processes for filing necessary documents. This partnership will offer the court access to evidence-based best practices on effective notice, digital self-help options, customer service, and more.
The ultimate aim is to modernize the court by implementing and rigorously testing new approaches to make the system more accessible and efficient for all residents of Los Angeles. Read more about the partnership here.