Talk Justice: Self-Help Legal Kiosks Create Adaptable Access

In a recent episode of LSC’s Talk Justice podcast, legal aid and tech experts discuss self-help legal kiosks. Legal aid’s limited resources make it impossible to provide meaningful services to every person who needs them. Many providers create and share educational materials and self-help resources online to help fill the gaps, but those without access to a personal computer or smartphone may not be able to access these resources.  Self-help legal kiosks offer adaptable access in community settings.

One of the many advantages for clients using a legal kiosk in their community is the direct knowledge and involvement of local legal services program(s) and the familiarity they have of their own clients, types of content, and referral guidelines. Kiosks are customizable by region and the resources available in a given part of the country. User research and feedback are also employed to improve development of kiosks and the user experience.

Since 2020, Minnesota has been at the forefront of using legal kiosks with the establishment of its statewide Reach Justice Project. The use of legal kiosks and justice buses as an outreach tool has been instrumental in meeting clients where they are, as well as in the coordination of virtual hearings with the courts.