Univision Takes Notice: How Are Virtual Court Kiosks Changing Access to Justice in Texas?
It’s not every day that a city receives support from their local governments to improve access to legal resources. Houston did just this by introducing their very own Virtual Court Kiosks to individuals who may not be able to afford an attorney or access court resources. Univision Houston produced a segment highlighting the Virtual Court Kiosks at the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library in Houston, TX. Univision interviewed Elizabeth Rendon, a librarian at the law library, who offered some beneficial use cases for the kiosk.
Kiosk Use
“The kiosk offers legal help with information and forms regarding civil issues,” Elizabeth says “and a chat function where someone can send a live message to a legal professional.” The Virtual Court Kiosks are a valuable resource for the community to provide free assistance and forms for a variety of legal questions such as divorce, child support, custody, name-change, and many more civil processes. There is also a chat function that will allow a user to chat with a legal professional. Individuals can attend court virtually through Zoom by using this kiosk—allowing Texas residents without stable internet or devices to be able to participate in legal proceedings without worrying about the financial feasibility of technology. Individuals will also have access to Virtual Court Navigators who can help facilitate the courtroom proceedings with document submissions.
Kiosk Funding
Virtual Court Kiosks were proposed to fill a need for individuals who could not access legal help or attend courtroom hearings. As a way to bridge the gap, Texas Legal Services Center (“TLSC”) funded these kiosks which were subsequently developed and installed by A2J Tech. TLSC implemented these kiosks to be “a beacon of hope” for Texas communities which will allow “residents to gain access to a wealth of legal resources” and to “bridge the gap between their legal needs.” TLSC aims to continue to expand the Virtual Court Kiosks to more locations across the state of Texas.
Community Impact
These Virtual Court Kiosks have incredible potential to improve the access to justice for the Texas community, especially Spanish-speaking individuals. By raising awareness for these cutting-edge technologies, more individuals will not have to suffer through their legal problems alone. By removing the financial barrier that excludes so many individuals from obtaining peace of mind, these kiosks are a firm step forward for inclusion, equality, and justice.
The Virtual Court Kiosks are available at the library from 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday. Services are offered in English and Spanish. The library requests that individuals make an appointment before using the kiosk.
Interested in Getting a Legal Kiosk?
To find out more information regarding Legal Kiosks, visit our Legal Kiosks website, and fill out an interest form. You can also contact our team for any questions you may have regarding our services.
