Evaluations and conclusions

There were evaluations available for some of the programs identified in this scan. An evaluation of the My LawBC program found that clients came from a variety of backgrounds and many regions in British Columbia, suggesting that awareness of and access to the online program is high (My LawBC Evaluation). The evaluation also found that while many site visitors were well educated, their personal incomes were low, with annual incomes of $35,000 or less. Site visitors appeared to use the tool for first steps in gathering legal information, with the most popular pathways being divorce, separation, and other family matters. While a minority of individuals reported that the provided pathways had resolved their legal issues (28%), the majority of site visitors reported that the information improved their understanding of laws (71%), legal options (65%), and their responsibilities (66%) (My LawBC Evaluation).

An evaluation of the Indigenous Courtwork Program found that the program was contributing to fairer, just and culturally relevant treatment of Indigenous people in the courts by promoting restorative measures and improving outcomes for clients, with over 95% of clients reporting being satisfied with the information provided (Indigenous Courtwork Evaluation). This evaluation identified that there are limitations with this program related to its capacity to meet the complex needs – including substance abuse and mental health challenges – of clients who may require additional services and supports.

The Social Security Tribunal evaluation found that the cases of appellants who were provided with a navigator were proceeding faster than cases without navigators. Most appellants who were assisted by navigators were able to participate meaningfully in hearings, leading to more focussed proceedings (Social Security Tribunal Evaluation).

There are also navigator programs in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. A US evaluative report entitled, Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Emerging Consensus, examined 23 programs in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Navigators in this study were defined as individuals who do not have full, formal legal credentials and training (i.e., a law degree, membership in a local bar), who assist people with basic civil legal problems and inquiries. Non-lawyer navigators do not operate under attorney/client privilege, as they are not a part of a self-regulated profession. However, these navigators receive specialized training prior to taking on this role (Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Emerging Consensus). Each navigator program is designed specifically to meet the needs of self-representing litigants in various jurisdictions. There is no standardized model for navigator programs at this time (Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Emerging Consensus).

This evaluation concluded that navigator programs are advancing the effectiveness of courts, increasing public trust in the justice system, and improving the experiences of self-representing litigants by providing them with the information necessary to assist with their case. It was found that non-lawyer navigators perform a variety of roles without raising concerns of unauthorized practicing of law. The authors highlight that the integration of community volunteers with trained lawyers is beneficial in programs that offer the involvement of lawyers as this partnership can foster establishment of programs, increase efficiency, and better serve self-representing litigants. The authors recommend the implementation of more pilot studies and data collection in order to inform decisions on the need to change the program (Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Emerging Consensus).