Mind the Gap: Technology as a Lifeline for Pro Se Child Custody Appeals
Duquesne University Law Review, Vol 58 no. 1 (Winter 2020)
Duquesne University School of Law Research Paper No. 2020-07
16 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2020
Date Written: January 1, 2020
Abstract
“[Seven] in [ten] low-income Americans with recent personal experience of a civil legal problem say a problem has significantly affected their lives.” “[Seventy-one percent] of low-income households have experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year.” Of those civil issues experienced, 27% of the households were dealing with matters relating to children or custody. Selfrepresented litigants “are prone to committing administrative, procedural and substantive errors.” These facts and statistics are just a few examples illustrating the breadth of the justice gap in the United States. Those in need of legal services cannot afford them or face other barriers to access. The justice gap is a complex problem which will not be fixed easily, but technology can significantly assist those who lack the means to have counsel to effectively navigate procedural matters. Technology applications, such as the proposed program application below, will help put a band-aid on the ever-increasing justice gap and can help litigants navigate difficult procedural issues.
Keywords: justice gap, civil procedure, custody of children, pro se representation, artificial intelligence
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