A2J Author Blog

A2J Author™ 2.0 can be downloaded free at http://www.a2jauthor.org/

CHICAGO — April 5, 2008 — On April 5, 2008 the years of hard work by the Center for Access to Justice & Technology (CAJT), in partnership with the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI), culminated in the release of A2J Author 2.0. The much awaited second release of the software is available for free on the A2J Author community website (www.a2jauthor.org) to anyone using the software for non-commercial purposes.

A2J Author 2.0 features several exciting enhancements, many of which were suggested by A2J Author™ users. While some of the improvements in 2.0 improve the end-user experience, most of the improvements are aimed at making the A2J Guided Interview™ authoring process more intuitive and efficient. For example, new menu enhancements allow developers to move much easier between development screens in the program. In addition, the new software makes it easier for authors to replicate A2J Guided Interview™ by allowing the author to clear all the audio files with one button click instead of deleting the individual files from within each question in the interview.

The new version also delivers the capability to exchange the traditional courthouse graphic for an alternative graphic designated by the author. With the increasing popularity of the program as a means to conduct online web intake, authors are able to designate a graphic more in tune with the purpose of the A2J Guided Interview™.

In addition, A2J Author 2.0 allows A2J Guided Interview™ authors to integrate their interviews with “live help” vis-à-vis a Live Help™ selection mechanism which will exist on the National Server. Live Help™ allows A2J Guided Interview™ users to receive personalized help from their local legal aid organization while completing the A2J Guided Interview™.

The Center for Access to Justice & Technology kicked off the release of the software via a web-based advertising campaign encouraging people to download the new version and attend a video conference which highlights improvements to the software. The campaign will reflect the exciting and new ways that A2J Author™ can help to improve the delivery of legal services to self-represented litigants.

A2J Author™ is a software tool that enables non-technical authors from the courts, clerk’s offices, legal services programs, and website editors rapidly to build and implement customer friendly web-based interfaces for document assembly. The A2J Guided Interviews™ created with A2J Author™ remove many of the barriers faced by self-represented litigants, allowing them to easily complete court documents that are ready to be filed with the court.

Currently, A2J is used in 22 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Ontario, Canada.

Rachel R. Medina
A2J Author Project Manager
Center for Access to Justice & Technology
Chicago-Kent College of Law
565 W. Adams Street, Suite 775
Chicago, IL 60651
www.kentlaw.edu/cajt
rmedina@kentlaw.edu
Ph: (312) 906-5328
Fx: (312) 906-5165