The Arizona Supreme Court is taking strides to democratize legal aid with the recent establishment of the Legal Services Authorized Community Justice Worker (LSACJW) program. According to an announcement from the Arizona Supreme Court, this program will enable nonlawyers in local communities, particularly those in rural areas where legal assistance is scarce, to provide limited legal support to vulnerable populations within Arizona.
These Community Justice Workers (CJWs) will be trained and operate under the supervision of attorneys associated with Arizona's Legal Services Corporation (LSC) grantees, including entities such as Community Legal Services, DNA-People’s Legal Services, and Southern Arizona Legal Aid. Reporting by the Arizona Supreme Court highlights the program's intent, saying, "By empowering local community members to provide essential support under the guidance of trained attorneys, we are expanding access to justice and ensuring that more Arizonans can navigate legal challenges with the help they need," Chief Justice Ann Timmer elucidated.
Community Justice Workers will be allowed to provide free legal advice, document preparation, and administrative representation, amongst other services, focusing primarily on civil matters like housing, consumer issues, and public benefits. According to sources, each CJW will be thoroughly vetted through background checks and must complete specialized training, not just joining without the need for qualifications.
Reflecting on the impact of the program, former ALSC executive director, Nikole Nelson, told the Arizona Supreme Court, "It is so wonderful to see the expansion of the Alaska Community Justice Worker model to Arizona," and emphasized the importance of such initiatives as "By allowing legal aid organizations to expand the pool of helpers who can assist in addressing unmet life-altering legal needs, Arizona has taken a big step towards making 'justice for all' a reality."
To comply with ethical standards, CJWs must disclose their non-lawyer status to clients before offering assistance. They'll work closely with supervising attorneys to determine service details and client outcomes. For more information on eligibility criteria and application procedures, one may view the Administrative Order.
Follow further updates and learn more about initiatives of Arizona's judicial branch at their official site, azcourts.gov, and through their social media on Twitter: @AZCourts and Facebook: @ArizonaSupremeCourt.
