Californians of all income levels experience at least one legal problem in a given year, yet they received inadequate or no legal help for 85% of their reported legal problems. In 2010 California discovered there was a need for equal access to justice, which is aimed at addressing the needs of individuals who are at a disadvantage when it comes to retaining an attorney.
In 1996, California created the Equal Access to Justice Committee with an annual fund of $10 million. The commission aims to develop a system in which every Californian has equal access to justice. This is done through a collaboration of the bar, courts, the public, and the three branches of government.
Despite these ongoing efforts there is still an overwhelming need for equal access to justice, which was discovered in 2010. California’s state legislature has been trying to increase accessibility of legal services to their underserved populations for years, but more improvement is needed. Initiatives to improve equal access haven’t been successful because of the government’s missteps, but also the law community’s hesitancy to change.
In 2021 and 2022, the California State Bar created a committee tasked with allowing paralegals to draft documents and appear in court, which was aimed at helping people who needed better access to the justice system. Many attorneys disapproved of this action, which led it to fail. Many attorneys have struggled to acknowledge that assisting people who fall outside full service representation is possible.
With the need for equal access to justice still not being met, My Legal Team, Inc. is now bravely helping to educate underserved communities and those in need of legal help with affordable legal services. Unlike other firms My Legal Team, Inc. charges a flat rate for consultations and document preparations. They also guide people through the necessary steps to take when navigating through court proceedings. They make sure people who are in need of legal assistance that can’t afford an attorney will have the support to get the proper attention their case’s need.
Attorneys in California have a constantly evolving way of thinking about how to serve the underrepresented community. Yet not all have accepted what My Legal Team, Inc. represents. They understand there is no direct competition between people who can afford full legal representation and those who can’t afford it or want to represent themselves.
After contacting My Legal Team, Inc. through their website or via phone, clients have a consultation with an in-house attorney to discuss the details of their case. During this call, the intricacies of a case can be better understood since attorneys have more experience and practice law unlike paralegals. Following this, paralegals complete the needed services for the client and coach them step by step.
President Crystal Hayes Hill is a practicing attorney of 20 years and opened My Legal Team, Inc. in 2017 after working for a legal self help clinic that provides free services in family and probate law. Her motivation to work with this client base grew because she witnessed the need and extremely long waiting list for free document preparation with paralegals, how inconvenient this process was for clients’ personal time, and the lack of services that aimed to assist vulnerable groups.
My Legal Team, Inc. President Crystal Hayes Hill says, “We understand that litigants need to see the big picture of where they are in a case, but also where they’re going. We give them support throughout the process with legal coaching and educate the client so they're more knowledgeable and prepared for the tasks they’ll have to complete as a self represented litigant. We’re able to see the nuances of each case and help litigants in a more successful way because we have an attorney’s wisdom combined with the value of a skilled paralegal.”
Media Contact:
Name: Crystal Hayes Hill
Email: [email protected]
Website: mylegalteam.com
