OATdb Archive

2013 - 2014

Student Legal & Mediation Services

Goal
Promoting Critical Thinking And Lifelong Learning Skills Through Legal Consultations.
Consultation with SLMS should result in students having a greater understanding of their options for moving towards resolution of their legal concern. 

Objective
Identification Of Change Of Student Understanding Of The Law And Options For Potential Resolution Of Legal Issue.
Student Legal & Mediation Services (SLMS) should create a safe place where students are comfortable in confiding confidential legal concerns and gain an understanding of the law, legal system and potential outcomes from actions they may take in regard to legal concerns.

Indicator
Student Surveys Will Show Increase Of Understanding Of The Law As Measured On The LIKERT Scale
Students coming in for an initial consultation on a legal issue will be surveyed prior to each consultation with one question: 

             I know which law applies to my situation and my options to resolve my legal concerns. 

Students will also be surveyed at the conclusion of each consultation with one question:  

            After my legal consultation, I know which law applies to my situation and my options to resolve my legal concerns.

The answer options for both questions are scale of 1-5 (LIKERT Scale); 1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree. 


Criterion
90% Of Student Surveys Will Show Increase Of Understanding Of Two Or More Digits On The LIKERT Scale.
A post-consultation increase in confidence of the steps to be taken in a legal situation is indicative of engagement and use of critical thinking skills.  A change in scores toward strongly agree also demonstrates an expanded understanding of the law, which is a lifelong learning skill.

Finding
Finding
Prior to their legal consultation, 134 students said they did not know which law applied to their situation (strongly), 38 did not know (moderate), 129 had no opinion, 30 students knew (moderate) and 12 knew (strongly).

After their legal consultation, only 1 student reported that they did not know which law applies to their situation (strongly), 1 student reported that they did not know (moderate), 23 had no opinion, 61 knew the law that applied to their situation (moderate) and 185 agreed (strongly) that they knew which law applied to their situation. Accordingly, only 1.16% of the student consultations did not result in an increase of two or more digits on the Likert scale, or conversely, 98.94% of the students moved two or more digits on the Likert scale.

Action
Action
We ask every student at the end of each consultation, and in the follow-up phone calls, if there is any additional information they need, or if there is any additional service that our office can provide. Approximately 99% of the students say that there is no additional steps needed because of the advice provided in the initial consultation. Of those that need additional advice, students are encouraged to schedule another appointment to see the attorney. We will continue to ask questions at the end of each consultation, and in the follow-up phone calls, if students need additional advice for their legal situation.

Objective
Increase Customer Service And Evaluate Students' Understanding Of Their Legal Rights And Options
Provide follow-up service check-up and evaluate whether students have understood their rights and taken action on one or more legal options.

KPI
Students Responding To Follow-Up Calls Will Affirm That They Have An Ongoing Understanding Of Legal Options.
Each student seeking initial legal consulation will receive a follow-up telephone call 1-2 weeks after appointment.  When calls are unanswered, the department will leave a message expressing concern/interest in legal resolution.  When calls are answered or returned, the following will be asked: 

  1. Was the information you attained in your legal consultation helpful in understanding your legal options?  (yes/no)
  2. Were you able to take the next step towards resolution of your legal issue?  (yes/no/na)
  3. Invite additional consultation if no steps have been taken. 
When calls are not returned after two attempts, students will receive an email requesting answers to the questions above.

Of students receiving consultation:

95% will receive follow-up calls and if necessary an email. 

75% of students will be reached by follow up efforts agree that the information attained in legal consultation was helpful in understanding legal options.

15% of students reached by telephone and will have taken the next step towards resolution of their legal issue. 


Result
Result
Within 10 -14 days of their consultation, students are contacted by phone to determine whether any additional information is needed or steps are required. 100% of the students who came to our office for consultations received a phone call, with our office either speaking with them in person or leaving a voicemail inviting them to call back or to schedule another appointment. If additional assistance was needed or requested, the student was encouraged to make another appointment to consult with the attorney.

94.21% (n=309) of the students that sought our advice either strongly agreed or agreed that they were confident in the next steps to take in their legal situation. Only 1 person strongly disagreed or disagreed with their knowledge of next steps. 18 people were neutral.




Action
Action
Currently 100% of the students who have a consultation with our office receive  a phone call within 10-14 days after their consultation to follow-up on their needs. On the initial phone call, if our office is unable to speak with someone, we leave a message asking the student to return the call if they need further assistance.

Goal
Improving Customer Service And Student Satisfaction For Legal Consultation
To provide increased service and evalutate student satisfaction, the department will follow up with students after legal consultation to determine their continued understanding, answer additional questions, and determine needs for further consultation. 

Objective
Increase Customer Service And Evaluate Students' Understanding Of Their Legal Rights And Options
Provide follow-up service check-up and evaluate whether students have understood their rights and taken action on one or more legal options.

KPI
Students Responding To Follow-Up Calls Will Affirm That They Have An Ongoing Understanding Of Legal Options.
Each student seeking initial legal consulation will receive a follow-up telephone call 1-2 weeks after appointment.  When calls are unanswered, the department will leave a message expressing concern/interest in legal resolution.  When calls are answered or returned, the following will be asked: 

  1. Was the information you attained in your legal consultation helpful in understanding your legal options?  (yes/no)
  2. Were you able to take the next step towards resolution of your legal issue?  (yes/no/na)
  3. Invite additional consultation if no steps have been taken. 
When calls are not returned after two attempts, students will receive an email requesting answers to the questions above.

Of students receiving consultation:

95% will receive follow-up calls and if necessary an email. 

75% of students will be reached by follow up efforts agree that the information attained in legal consultation was helpful in understanding legal options.

15% of students reached by telephone and will have taken the next step towards resolution of their legal issue. 


Result
Result
Within 10 -14 days of their consultation, students are contacted by phone to determine whether any additional information is needed or steps are required. 100% of the students who came to our office for consultations received a phone call, with our office either speaking with them in person or leaving a voicemail inviting them to call back or to schedule another appointment. If additional assistance was needed or requested, the student was encouraged to make another appointment to consult with the attorney.

94.21% (n=309) of the students that sought our advice either strongly agreed or agreed that they were confident in the next steps to take in their legal situation. Only 1 person strongly disagreed or disagreed with their knowledge of next steps. 18 people were neutral.




Action
Action
Currently 100% of the students who have a consultation with our office receive  a phone call within 10-14 days after their consultation to follow-up on their needs. On the initial phone call, if our office is unable to speak with someone, we leave a message asking the student to return the call if they need further assistance.

Objective
Identification Of Change Of Student Understanding Of The Law And Options For Potential Resolution Of Legal Issue.
Student Legal & Mediation Services (SLMS) should create a safe place where students are comfortable in confiding confidential legal concerns and gain an understanding of the law, legal system and potential outcomes from actions they may take in regard to legal concerns.

Indicator
Student Surveys Will Show Increase Of Understanding Of The Law As Measured On The LIKERT Scale
Students coming in for an initial consultation on a legal issue will be surveyed prior to each consultation with one question: 

             I know which law applies to my situation and my options to resolve my legal concerns. 

Students will also be surveyed at the conclusion of each consultation with one question:  

            After my legal consultation, I know which law applies to my situation and my options to resolve my legal concerns.

The answer options for both questions are scale of 1-5 (LIKERT Scale); 1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree. 


Criterion
90% Of Student Surveys Will Show Increase Of Understanding Of Two Or More Digits On The LIKERT Scale.
A post-consultation increase in confidence of the steps to be taken in a legal situation is indicative of engagement and use of critical thinking skills.  A change in scores toward strongly agree also demonstrates an expanded understanding of the law, which is a lifelong learning skill.

Finding
Finding
Prior to their legal consultation, 134 students said they did not know which law applied to their situation (strongly), 38 did not know (moderate), 129 had no opinion, 30 students knew (moderate) and 12 knew (strongly).

After their legal consultation, only 1 student reported that they did not know which law applies to their situation (strongly), 1 student reported that they did not know (moderate), 23 had no opinion, 61 knew the law that applied to their situation (moderate) and 185 agreed (strongly) that they knew which law applied to their situation. Accordingly, only 1.16% of the student consultations did not result in an increase of two or more digits on the Likert scale, or conversely, 98.94% of the students moved two or more digits on the Likert scale.

Action
Action
We ask every student at the end of each consultation, and in the follow-up phone calls, if there is any additional information they need, or if there is any additional service that our office can provide. Approximately 99% of the students say that there is no additional steps needed because of the advice provided in the initial consultation. Of those that need additional advice, students are encouraged to schedule another appointment to see the attorney. We will continue to ask questions at the end of each consultation, and in the follow-up phone calls, if students need additional advice for their legal situation.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement Based upon last year's Plan for Continuous Improvement, we evaluated the questions we asked and the method for asking them. We are now asking the questions pre and post consultation by electronic means rahter than paper and pen. We are finding that students are more receptive to electronic means and that data collection is easier. We've also evaluated the questions that we are asking students and have included questions suggested by peer groups, including questions relating to university retention and academic focus.

Plan for continuous improvement At this time, we believe that the questions that we are asking students who consult with are are consistent with peer organizations and provide our office with information to determine whether or not we are meeting our Objectives and KPIs. The data collected shows this to be accurate. For the future improvement, because the method of collection is new (electronic/tablet) we are working on, and will evaluate, the efficacy of this method of data collection.