Access to Justice, Design Thinking and Artificial Intelligence Forum

Rechtwijzer: Development and Demonstration

Peter van den Biggelaar Former Executive Director Dutch Legal Aid Board

Melbourne, July 6

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Philosophy…

HERACLITUS (540-840 BC)

The Path to Rechtwijzer 2.0

2006 --- Electronic connection with tax offices for eligibility check and mediation as a legal aid service --- 2007--- Rechtwijzer 1.0 as diagnosis and referral

tool) --- 2014 --- Rechtwijzer 2.0 as online tool for

divorce and separation cases --- 2016+ ---Extension to landlord and tenant, dismissal and debts.

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Why Rechtwijzer?

Empowering: stimulating self-responsibility and enable people to take control (at your own pace & time).

Sustainable: make understandable agreements

Transparent: objective information, fixed prices, pay-as-you-go.

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Improve access to justice by innovation

Why Rechtwijzer?

Less adversarial: keep people in a negotiation mode.

Enabling mediators, legal reviewers and adjudicators to do their interventions effectively.

Making the procedure easier: simpler rules, using one format for all involved.

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Improve access to justice by innovation

The Partnership

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Supported by the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice

Advisory board

Consortium DLAB+LSS BC+RELATE+HiiL+MODRIA

Barriers

Lack of moneyResistance National BarTime neededDifferent speedsFeedbackPrioritize

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ImpactFacts: As of June 22, 2016

1004 cases started (68 cases a month) 25 days average to finalize separation plan381 cases finalized (16 mediations + 2 adjudications)

€ 540 maximum costs€ 390 minimum costs for separation plan (incl. review, ex-court fee)55% of the cases eligible for legal aid7.1 user survey

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10540 -480 BC

Milestone

Impact•Special award from the Council of Europe•World’s first platform that empowers people to make their own separation plan, including professional support

•Broad international interest, possible ‘game changer’

•Proud employees at the DLAB for an organisation that dares to experiment with innovations

•Positive customer feedback•Bit of panic and nervousness within BAR

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Key lessons

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Antennae in Society

The FutureNext steps

On going focus on improvementsIntegrated servicesPromotion

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Rechtwijzer in action

Maurits BarendrechtHiiL, The Hague

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