ST. GEORGE — Utah residents seeking legal advice on housing issues will be able to do so for free by participating in a pilot program recently announced in a news release issued by the Utah State Courts.
The Utah Supreme Court’s Office of Legal Services Innovation, in partnership with Innovation 4 Justice (i4J), an access-to-justice lab associated with both the University of Arizona and the University of Utah, announced the groundbreaking project last week.
The project aims to empower community-based organizations to provide free, reliable, limited-scope legal advice on housing issues to the people they serve by participating in the Court’s legal regulatory sandbox (the Sandbox).
Housing instability is a significant challenge in Utah and across the nation, and many people facing eviction and foreclosure have difficulty accessing legal help. The new Housing Stability Legal Advocate Pilot Program will train and certify nonlawyers working within community-based organizations as legal advocates, bridging the gap in access to justice for vulnerable populations.
i4J will offer a free Housing Stability Legal Advocate curriculum and certify individuals who complete the program with satisfactory scores. Once certified, these legal advocates will provide free, limited-scope legal advice on housing-related issues through community-based organizations authorized to practice in the Sandbox.
i4J will also continue to support participating community-based organizations with legal mentoring and assistance in complying with the Sandbox’s regulatory requirements, according to the news release.
The Utah Supreme Court has issued a Standing Order authorizing the pilot program. This order allows i4J-certified Housing Stability Legal Advocate providers and their community-based organization employers to operate within a safe harbor, protecting them from enforcement actions based on the unauthorized practice of law, provided they comply with the Standing Order, the regulatory requirements of the Office of Legal Services Innovation, and all other applicable state and federal statutes and regulations.
The pilot program will focus on four key areas:
- Issue spotting for housing stability issues during community-based organization client intake
- Providing legal advice and assistance with identified housing issues before they advance to court
- Providing legal advice and assistance with post-judgment procedures
- Providing legal advice and assistance related to other state and federal assistance programs
It is important to note that legal advocates are not authorized to represent others in any Utah state court at this time.
This innovative approach to addressing housing issues is a significant step forward in the Supreme Court’s efforts to bridge the access-to-justice gap. By leveraging the expertise of community-based organizations and providing necessary training and support, the pilot program has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of those facing housing instability in Utah.
Find more information about the Housing Stability Legal Advocate Pilot Program online.