Project Description
This study is a process and outcome evaluation of Legal Action’s project to use pro-bono attorneys to increase the representation of low-income tenants facing eviction in Milwaukee County. The project objectives include:
1) increase legal and social justice for tenants facing eviction;
2) improve the court experience for tenants;
3) alleviate burdens on court commissioners/judges;
4) support county-wide initiatives to eliminate homelessness;
5) encourage city-wide collaborative efforts on social initiatives;
6) avoid long-term consequences/costs of eviction for tenants/landlords through prejudgment negotiations.
Surveys and/or interviews will be conducted for those receiving legal services (objectives 1, 2, 4), judges/court commissioners (objective 3), and pro-bono attorneys. With permission, interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Additionally, eviction proceeding court records will be examined to determine whether the number of prejudgement negotiations increased, while evictions decreased during the program (objective 6).
The process evaluation will monitor the implementation of the project to record deviations from the intended delivery. Findings will be shared at meetings with project partners to allow the partners to identify if changes need to be made to ensure successful achievement of program goals. Additionally, data will be collected on the project’s ability to encourage city-wide collaborative efforts on social initiatives (objective 5).
Tasks and Responsibilites
The student will collect data at the courthouse during eviction court, and survey individuals who received services from the Eviction Defense Project (EDP). This will include working with Eviction Defense Project attorneys to approach clients and request participation. The student will then assist clients in completing the survey and entering the survey into the electronic database. The student will explain the consent process to the client and maintain the respondent’s confidentiality and may also assist with data entry, interviewing, and transcribing of interviews. Lastly, the student will create at least one written brief for EDP, and will create one presentation for the UWM SURF symposium, and potentially present at Midwestern Criminal Justice Association conference in Chicago, Illinois (September 2020).
Desired Qualifications
None