Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Mark Devirgilio

Abstract

AbstractLack of access to United States civil courts by individuals who cannot afford or are otherwise unable to retain legal counsel has attracted the interest of policy makers and members of the legal community in recent years. The literature revealed a wide range of efforts and public and private resources that have been employed to address the problem. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences, perceptions, and insights of individuals in a medium-size Michigan city who had utilized services that deliver legal resources by technology-based platforms. Social construction of targeted populations and the technology acceptance model formed the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with 10 litigants who interacted with technology-based legal resources as part of their civil court experience. The results of coding analysis indicated five themes: Determination, No Other Choice, Willingness to Learn, Trust in institutions, and Would Do It again. All participants noted that the legal system could help them and that they were willing to make efforts to learn and adapt to the use of technology-based legal resources. Findings may be used for positive social change by individuals in need of civil legal help and by policy makers inclined to address the U.S. justice gap. Recommendations include locating legal resources within civil courts and increasing technological innovation and access to online legal resources.

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