Plaintiff’s Claim Guided Pathway

Overview

The Problem: Lack of Informational Support Regarding Small Claims

Many individuals encountering legal disputes within the realm of the Small Claims Court face significant hurdles in understanding the procedural intricacies and initiating a Plaintiff's Claim. The absence of accessible guidance and support exacerbates these challenges, leaving individuals uncertain about navigating the complexities of legal processes. This lack of clarity particularly impacts those seeking restitution or resolution for claims valued at $35,000 or less, hindering their ability to effectively pursue legal redress. In light of these obstacles, there is a pressing need for a user-friendly pathway that provides clear instructions and support to empower individuals in initiating a Plaintiff's Claim and navigating the Small Claims Court system with confidence.

The Project

In my role as a Guided Pathways Analyst at Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), I was tasked with transforming a one-page vision concept note into a fully functional guided pathway. Guided Pathways facilitate the process of legal document completion and letter drafting, streamlining the journey for individuals seeking assistance. Specifically, the Plaintiff’s Claim Guided Pathway is designed to help individuals:

  • Initiating a Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A) in Small Claims Court for amounts up to $35,000.

  • Filing a Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A) in Small Claims Court to recover goods or personal property valued at $35,000 or less.

  • Understanding Small Claims Court procedures, including eligible claim types and essential deadlines.

  • Assessing the feasibility of collecting awarded funds post-judgment, particularly if the defendant lacks financial resources or valuable assets.

Team

Software Programmers, Lawyers, Legal Researchers, Subject Matter Experts, and Software Usability Testers

Role

UX Design • User Acceptance Testing (UAT) • Prototyping • Content Strategist • Digital Strategist

Tools

Access to Justice (A2J) Software • JIRA • Microsoft Office Suite • RunStraight Hub Portal

Process

The development of a guided pathway for the Plaintiff’s Claim involved a blend of legal expertise and technological innovation. This multi-stage process spanned approximately two years and included:

  • Conducting thorough research and collaborating with legal experts to understand private prosecution intricacies.

  • Drafting a concise concept note, gathering stakeholder feedback, and revising accordingly.

  • Expanding the concept note into a detailed pathway outline, reviewed by legal researchers and subject matter experts.

  • Creating a visual flowchart of the pathway, refining for clarity and coherence.

  • Translating the flowchart into a functional pathway on A2J software with software programmers' collaboration.

  • Testing the initial prototype for functionality and user experience, iterating based on feedback.

  • Incorporating public legal educational information (PLEI) to enhance user understanding, refined through usability testing.

  • Reviewing the pathway with legal professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance.

  • Finalizing the minimum viable product (MVP) for usability testing.

  • Publishing the pathway on the live environment for additional usability testing and eventual public use.

Final Product

Introducing the solution: a comprehensive guided pathway designed to empower individuals encountering legal disputes within the realm of the Small Claims Court, offering clarity through the legal process, as shown below. For more information about the guided pathway, please visit the Steps to Justice: Guided Pathways website.

While the details of the work I undertook for this project are mostly confidential due to the nature of the work, I would be happy to share my experiences with you on a call or walk you through the final product. Please contact me at elize.khan@mail.utoronto.ca