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Measuring the Long-Term Outcomes of Legal Processes Using Open Data

Wed, Nov 15, 3:30 to 4:50pm, Marriott, Room 407, 4th Floor

Abstract

The field of civil legal services is interested not only in providing legal assistance in particular cases, but in achieving lasting outcomes that reduce poverty. One difficulty with measuring outcomes in the legal system is that the real-life outcome of a court case is not necessarily apparent from the disposition of the case, or apparent at the time the legal services end. In the context of judicial foreclosure, for example, whether a homeowner ultimately “saves” or “loses” his or her home depends on many factors that are outside of court. This presentation will describe a study that uses open data sources to measure the long-term outcomes of judicial foreclosure lawsuits in Philadelphia over the eight years following the financial crisis of 2008. It will also discuss a statistical model that combines this outcome information with demographic data and legal services provider data to build a statistical model that predicts the likelihood of a positive outcome for a homeowner, using information available at the start of the foreclosure process. The goal is to better understand how legal processes affect low-income people and also to help legal services providers allocate their resources in areas where they have the greatest effect.

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