Arizona Supreme Court Initiates Program to Aid Vulnerable Groups with Legal Access
The Arizona Supreme Court has embarked on a new initiative aimed at improving legal access for vulnerable communities. This innovative program, known as the Legal Services Authorized Community Justice Worker Program, was established through an order signed by Justice Ann Scott Timmer.
Unlike traditional legal aid, this program employs individuals who, although not licensed attorneys, receive training to assist with civil legal matters. These trained community justice workers focus on issues such as consumer rights, debt relief, public benefits, unemployment, and disputes between tenants and landlords.
Justice Timmer highlighted the importance of early intervention in legal disputes, particularly in landlord-tenant issues. “By the time somebody gets to court on landlord-tenant, they’re done. There’s nothing really left to do, which is a problem. If you can get to somebody early to give you the advice or to negotiate something with the landlord or that kind of thing, you have an opportunity to avoid that kind of thing,” she explained.
The program strategically places these workers within their own communities, ensuring they are accessible to individuals with unmet legal needs. This initiative addresses the high cost of legal services, which Justice Timmer acknowledges, stating, “I don’t blame the lawyers. It’s expensive to get the education, the overhead, all of these things.”
Participants in the program are required to adhere to regulations set forth by both the Arizona Supreme Court and the State Bar of Arizona, ensuring a standard of quality and accountability.
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