HotDocs Donates in Excess of $2 Million Worth of Software to Nonprofit Legal Organizations
Lindon, UT and New York, NY- October 5, 2010-HotDocs Corporationtoday announced that it has donated more than $2 million worth of software to 159 nonprofit legal services organizations through its Charitable Organization Program.
At a time of shrinking budgets and growing demand for help, legal aid and pro bono programs throughout the country are struggling to find ways to do more with less. The donation program, which provides free NFR licenses ofHotDocs Developer 10andHotDocs User 10, enables legal aid and pro bono programs to create automated templates that can be used to quickly and easily assemble legal documents, or to provide tools for self-representation to people their lawyers cannot represent. Nonprofit organizations funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation and state Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) programs were eligible to participate.
“We are delighted to be able to assist these programs in their work,” said Russell Shepherd, CEO of HotDocs Corporation. “They make a tremendous contribution to the community, and we feel privileged to be able to help.”
The Charitable Organization Program is part of HotDocs’ broader support of access to justice initiatives, including LawHelp Interactive, a national initiative that uses donatedHotDocs Serversoftware to provide free, online tools that help low-income people and their advocates fill out legal forms. This year tens of thousands of low-income litigants struggling with eviction, foreclosure, domestic violence, child custody, and other critical issues will use LawHelp Interactive to help address these problems. Also benefitting are the courts, which run more smoothly and efficiently when they receive forms that are correctly and completely filled out.
LawHelp Interactive is a program ofPro Bono Net, a leader in innovative programs that increase access to justice. The College of Law Practice Management awarded Pro Bono Net its 2010 InnovAction Award, which recognizes outstanding innovation in the delivery of legal services, for LawHelp Interactive.
“At a time when the divide between rich and poor is growing in America, HotDocs Corporation’s generosity makes it possible to help overstretched legal aid and pro bono organizations bridge the gap for people in need,” said Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of Pro Bono Net. “This is a terrific example of how public-private partnerships can benefit all parts of the justice system: the courts, legal aid providers, and poor litigants alike.” In addition to HotDocs, LawHelp Interactive has received support from the Legal Services Corporation and the State Justice Institute.
Eligible legal aid and pro bono programs that did not meet the deadline for the donation program can still buy HotDocs licenses at a significant discount, and will receive free installation support.
About HotDocs Corporation
HotDocs Corporation is the recognized market leader in document automation software, serving over 500,000 users worldwide, including 80% of the Am Law 200, 20% of the Fortune 500, and firms, corporations, and government agencies of all sizes. Having pioneered the concept of document automation and assembly in the late 1970s, HotDocs Corporation is now a wholly owned subsidiary of HotDocs Ltd.
Contact
Leonard Ducharme
(801) 615-2233
About Pro Bono Net
Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation. Pro Bono Net uses innovative web-based platforms probono.net, lawhelp.org and lawhelpinteractive.org to recruit and support volunteer lawyers and provide direct information and tools for self representation to low-income communities. Pro Bono Net has also developed Pro Bono Manager, pro bono practice management software that helps AmLaw 200 law firms increase pro bono participation, manage pro bono caseloads more efficiently and raise internal and external awareness of pro bono efforts. For more information, please visit www.probono.net.
Contact
Pam Weisz
(212) 760-2554 x485