JusticeAccess 徽标

流动法律图书馆通过获取信息支持诉诸司法

About JusticeAccess:

JusticeAccess is a law library for the public. We bring the library throughout the community to help people do legal research so they can address their own legal problems.

young Black woman at the reference desk with an open laptop in front of her and JusticeAccess postcards on the table

How we work:

Virtual Reference Desk: videochat online with a law librarian.

Community Reference Desk: talk to us in person.

我们对客户的承诺

We will not share your question with anyone outside of JusticeAccess.

We will not judge your question or you.

We will do our best to help you find the information you need.

two hands clasped
fountain pen lying on a parchment colored paper with cursive writing

Why our work is needed

太多居民在没有律师帮助的情况下出庭。这种情况往往因权力不平衡而加剧。例如，在华盛顿特区的房东-房客法庭，只有 12% 的房客有律师，而 95% 的房东都有律师代表。

  

外圈显示 12% 的绿色租户有律师代理（深绿色），88% 没有律师代理（黄色）。内圈显示 95% 的房东有律师代理（深绿色），只有 5% 的房东没有律师代理（黄色）。
条形图说明了有律师和无律师的个人之间的结果差异。代表有律师帮助的个人的深绿色柱形图比代表没有律师帮助的个人的黄色柱形图要高得多。

在家事法庭上，有律师出庭的当事人比没有律师出庭的当事人的结果要好得多。

在华盛顿特区的家庭暴力部门和家事法庭，寻求保护令的个人在有律师代理的情况下，成功的可能性是其他人的两倍多（27% 自诉；62% 有代理）。寻求子女抚养令的父母在有律师代理的情况下胜诉的几率是前者的四倍多（10% 自辩；43% 有律师代理）。

向公众开放的传统法律图书馆很难使用。障碍包括

  • 英语水平有限
  • 焦虑
  • 识字率有限
  • 交通和其他地理障碍
  • 儿童保育需求
  • 时间表
金钱、阅读能力、警察、时间

InterRogerTories, or This is Not an Advice Column

  • Two cartoon dogs wearing party hats
    Happy birthday?
    InterRogerTory: Dear Roger, I just celebrated a milestone birthday! Well, “celebrated” might not be the right word; my friend told me that she and some other friends were planning a surprise party for me, and it turned out that the surprise was that there wasn’t a party! I relied on my friend telling me that… Read more: Happy birthday?
  • purple bowling pin with the word "open" written vertically in front of a black bowling ball and orange background with yellow stars
    In home bowling league
    InterRogerTory: Dear Roger, I know that living in a multi-unit building means that there will be noise. I have neighbors with dogs, and I am totally cool with the occasional barking. Getting to pet the pups makes up for the noise. And I love my home. I have a really long hallway where my cats… Read more: In home bowling league
  • person drowning in envelopes pouring out of a computer
    淹没在 "捐赠星期二 "的电子邮件中
    InterRogerTory: Response: Dear Overwhelmed, If you really want to make it stop, you can unsubscribe from each organization’s mailing list. Federal law, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, requires each “commercial electronic mail” to include a way to opt out of receiving future emails. But please don’t! Yes, Giving 星期二 is a bit obnoxious, being tied… Read more: Drowning in Giving 星期二 emails
  • 家庭传统
    InterRogerTory: Dear Roger, My favorite part of Thanksgiving is pumpkin pie. We have had pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving every year that I have been alive. My uncle is hosting our family this year, and he said there will be no orange foods. How can he do this? Is there some sort of law about family… Read more: Family Traditions
  • long haired black cat on a blue background
    狗？
    InterRogerTory: Response: Dear Lady Fluff, Oh my cat, this is a difficult situation for you. Remember that I cannot give you legal advice, but here is information that you can evaluate yourself. Since your employees live with you, you’re going to want to look at housing law as well as employment law. Let’s start with… Read more: A dog?!?