Thoughts on how access to justice and advice might self organise - a panorama on a pandemic

Covid-19 doesn’t differentiate. It’s hurting individuals and organisations in many ways. The change is traumatic but we are resolute and we will find our way through. Just as the virus attacks us, so we can attack the challenges it brings.

Back in 2003/4 I was involved in national ChangeUp hubs. They had plenty of issues despite their successes and we should bear in mind those lessons in bringing together cross sector partnerships for national social benefit.

So what might be needed to make this work to the best of its ability in 2020?

 
What’s needed now?

1. Policy and engagement with government - including regulatory and the rule of law. From remote courts to transparency and safety. Making sure things are done right and principles aren’t evaded. Ensuring policy supports rather than encumbers. 
2. Finance and fundraising - know the numbers and get cash flowing where it’s needed. Where is the urgent need? NCVO, CFG et al are lobbying rescue packages, foundations (and firms) are providing emergency funds. Networks are supporting their members. Let’s ensure organisations in need get what they require (and now is no time to be bashful about your circumstances).
3. Technology and tools - from remote working to collecting information and needs through to providing services (remote service delivery) and facilitating collaboration and action. Whether you call them platforms or websites or software, they’re simply tools you need to get the job done. A lot of this is known (e.g. LiP Network’s Technology and Tools group and resources) so let’s get it out there. Groups are re-purposing at lightning speed.
4. Information and data curation and sharing - this is a good time for transparency. There are key partnerships and key web resources to convene, collate and curate starting with the headline material and linking through to the detail. Evidence is more crucial than ever. Data sharing needs to happen and recent legislation and guidance removes some of the perceived blocks.
5. Resource mobilisation - whether front line and outreach or pro bono or ‘backroom’, what’s our rough map of skills, knowledge and capabilities. How do we best link need to resource? Get it out there where it’s needed. Let’s point at (and focus on) the information and the services that make the biggest difference. Role clarity and commitment will help.
6. Services - understanding needs and meeting them. From points of access (and triage) to user journeys – much already exists. There are daily instances of service delivery innovation – let’s link where the client in need comes in from with the potential innovation and link through Resource Mobilisation.  
7. Sustainability and understanding consequences - the decisions we make in the coming days and weeks will have longer term consequences but as ever we build (try), learn and adapt. The important thing is to think before we act and ensure we review and learn not just stumble blindly on.

And can we bundle these? Well how about:

• Structure – policy, finance and fundraising, sustainability and consequences
• Resources – technology and tools, information and data curation and sharing, resource mobilisation, services

Two groups, one ensuring ‘the ground beneath us’ and the other ‘building the field camp’ that makes progress on issues. Feeding back, transparently, to a core group of all the talents.

Let’s not do this in isolation, ivory towers or tiny groups. Let’s cut down on meetings and get more stuff done.

And where targeted?

1. What do individuals and organisations need - somewhere to go to know what they need and then get the need met.
2. How do we address that - we can self organise but we need to commit, call out what’s not working and fix it (rather than just complain about it). 
3. How do we ensure the future - ensure a true collaboration team is keeping an eye on developments and ensuring the adaptation, whilst bending to meet circumstances and doesn’t break all that we uphold to be most important. 

Just lawyers and advice workers then?

This is beyond purely legal support - it’s also about change and needs strong leadership and coordination without being bureaucratic and time consuming. There are lots of skills and talents on offer. The structures (and mostly the tools and platforms) exist but are we using them right? It’s time to step up and act. Fewer meetings, more reflection, more progress and action. Who’s going to? And why not now?