Automated Forms – Forms that are closely related to document assembly. Automated forms prompt users to enter information needed to complete the forms (such as name, birth date, name of children), then merges this information into the form for a completed version. More Information...
A2J Interface (Access to Justice) – This is a more user friendly interface for automated forms interviews which incorporates website standards for low-literacy users, including graphics, to create an easy to navigate interview for automated forms. More Information...
Blog – This is a term coming from the combination of the terms web log – it is a web page that serves as publicly accessible journal for the author. It can be formal or informal, is usually updated daily and reflects the personality of the author. More Information...
Case Management System (CMS) – In the legal world, a CMS involves both the management of legal cases and matters, as well as information and documents that relate to those matters and the billing for the provisions of services. CMS products commonly used by free legal service providers typically include an eligibility module and do not include a billing module. More Information...
Cyber piracy (sometimes called cyber squatting) - This occurs when individuals register domain names incorporating the names of famous persons or existing organizations or that incorporate trademarks and trade names of others. The domain names are sometimes changed to contain inappropriate and offensive material, and then held for resale to the organizations for a substantial profit. More Information...
Document Assembly - This is the process of creating word processing documents by combining segments of text stored separately as files or macros. (see HotDocs below). More Information...
E-filing - This is the electronic transmittal of documents for filing to the courts. It can vary in method, such as by transmittal of PDF documents or by transmitting just the information needed to complete XML documents. More Information...
HotDocs® - This is a commercial document assembly product from LexisNexis® used to create online forms and pleadings. It is available to legal services programs for free through a donation from LexisNexis. Once a form has been created and uploaded to the web site, pro se users and program advocates can fill in the form by answering questions and entering the information requested. The software then combines the information and supplies a finished form that can be saved and printed. More Information...
ICAN! ® EIC – The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit that reduces (or eliminates) the taxes that low-income people pay. ICAN! ®-EIC is free, web-based software designed to help low-income clients to claim the federal EITC. More Information...
Kiosk – This is a booth providing a computer-related service, like an ATM. It requires an interface easy enough for any user to operate without training or documentation. Touch screen technology is a way of making kiosks easily accessible to users. More Information...
LAN- A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link. Typically, connected devices share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). More Information...
Live Help - This is an instant messaging application designed specifically to provide online assistance to users of a web site. The software enables the administrator of a web site to receive and respond to text communication from multiple users of the web site using standard instant messaging protocols, while mirroring what is being viewed by the person requesting assistance. More Information...
LSNTAP.org (Legal Services Technology) - This is a web portal to technology services and information tailored to a legal aid audience enabling nonprofit legal aid providers to use technology to serve low-income clients more effectively. More Information...
LSXML - XML is short for Extensible mark-up language, a language designed especially for web-based documents. It allows designers to create customized tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between organizations. Legal Services XML or LSXML- is the schema devoted to defining those tags that are specific to the legal services community. This schema has subsequently been adopted as a community wide standard. More Information...
NPADO (NonProfit Automated Documents Online) – This is the National Legal Services Document Assembly Server, made possible with a donation from LexisNexis and funding from the LSC, is used so that the Statewide Websites can provide legal forms that users can complete using interactive questionnaires. More Information...
NTAP (Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project) – This is an organization that helps the poverty law community improve client services through effective use of technology. NTAP provides technology training, online information and assistance for free. NTAP manages LSNTAP.Org, LegalMeetings, the Poverty Law Survey Tool and the GIS National Server Project. More Information...
RSS feeds (short for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) – This a format of XML (originally developed by Netscape) that allows for the syndication of web sites. This is done by creating an XML document which summarizes specific site content such as news, blog posts or comments and forum threads. More Information...
SQL-(Structured Query Language)-(also nicknamed "Sequel") - This is a standard computer language for accessing data from ("querying") and manipulating data in relational databases. The term SQL and nickname Sequel also refers to a popular Microsoft database product. More Information...
Statewide Websites - Statewide websites provide clients access to legal services and pro bono referral information as well as public legal education information and self-help materials. Statewide websites enable legal services programs to streamline their services, attract and retain volunteer lawyers, greatly enhance training and support for volunteers, and share important legal resources across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries while maintaining program control of their own materials. More Information...
TIG (Technology Initiative Grant) – These are grants funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to encourage legal services programs to use technology in innovative ways to increase access, to improve service delivery, and to enhance their management and administration. More Information...
Video Conferencing – (also known as a videoteleconference) This is a set of interactive technologies that allow two or more locations/people to interact via two-way video and audio transmission simultaneously. More Information...
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) - This is software that enables people to make telephone calls over the Internet. Packets of voice data are sent over the Internet employing the same method used to transfer data packets. In using VOIP, the user does not incur any additional charges for the phone call (for example long distance charges) beyond what they already pay for Internet connectivity. More Information...
WAN- short for Wide Area Network- It is a computer network that spans a relatively large geographic area. The Internet is an example of a WAN. More Information...
Webcasting – This is using the Internet to broadcast live (or delayed) video and/or audio much like TV broadcasting. (also called Netcasting) More Information...
RSS feeds (short for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) – This a format of XML (originally developed by Netscape) that allows for the syndication of websites. This is done by creating an XML document which summarizes specific site content such as news, blog posts or comments and forum threads. More Information...
Wiki – This is a website that includes the collaboration of work from many different authors. A wiki site allows anyone to edit, delete, or modify the content on the web. (The first wiki creator named the site after a chain of buses in Hawaii; Wiki means "quick" in Hawaiian.) More Information...
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