[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-199975-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-199975-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","pbif-application-executive-summary","PBIF Application - Executive Summary","","PBIF Application seeks funding for a customized virtual law firm platform that supports user-friendly guided online interviews and document assembly templates, plus a volunteer-driven statewide clinic system. The project targets pro bono delivery challenges for low-income clients pursuing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, including shortages of pro bono lawyers outside Greater Boston and clients’ difficulties supplying required information and documents. VLP will partner with DirectLaw, Inc. to adapt and replicate an existing model, improving efficiency in case evaluation, preparation, and referral.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/forms/","Forms",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/pbif-application-executive-summary/199975/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/pbif-application-executive-summary/199975.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"McQueen","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-07","2026-09-04",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What does the PBIF-funded project aim to create?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It will build a customized virtual law firm platform with guided online interviews and document assembly templates, alongside a volunteer-driven statewide clinic system.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Which pro bono legal need does the project address?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"It targets service delivery gaps in Chapter 7 bankruptcy representation for low-income clients, especially where pro bono lawyers are scarce and clients struggle to provide required documentation.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How will the project improve pro bono case handling and referrals?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"By increasing efficiency in evaluating, preparing, and referring bankruptcy cases through the online platform and leveraging experienced Boston staff and volunteer attorneys statewide.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},199975,1788507533,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,113,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":110,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":136,"language":137,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":138,"faqs":139,"seo_title":140,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":100},5909890329169,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","Project Title Amount Requested Total Project Budget Grant Term (months)  \nPBIF Application  \nEqual Access to a Fresh Start $158,045  \n$211,278  \n24  \nRequesting Funding through LSC’s TIG Program? No  \nApplying for a TIG that complements this grant? No  \nExecutive Summary  \nThis project will create a customized virtual law firm platform, user-friendly online guided interviewsand document assembly templates, and a volunteer-driven statewide system of clinics to enhance the delivery of pro bono legal services to low-income clients seeking a fresh start through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Through this project, the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) seeks to address service delivery challenges and gaps – a shortage of pro bono lawyers outside greater Boston and client difficulty providing necessary information and documents-that have hampered pro bono representation in bankruptcy cases for years. In creating the online platform, VLP will work with DirectLaw, Inc. to adapt and replicate a similar project underway at New Mexico Legal Aid. The innovations proposed will bring greater efficiency to evaluating, preparing, and referring pro bono bankruptcy cases and leverage the resources of experienced Boston-area bankruptcy staff and pro bono attorneys for the benefit of clients and pro bono attorneys statewide.  \nNarrative  \nProject Design  \n1. Need Statement  \nThis project aims to create efficiencies and support that will make it easier for attorneys across the state to handle Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases pro bono and, when it is not possible to find a local pro bono attorney, to use technology to enhance the ability of Boston area attorneys to provide pro bono assistance to clients in rural or remote communities.  \nThe need for pro bono representation for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is greater now than ever before in this extended period of unemployment and poor economic performance. Filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy can relieve many of the financial problems that low-income clients face, including a stay of court proceedings and return of repossessed property. Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases for low-income clients should be relatively straightforward and resolve quickly. However, when debtors file pro se they are more likely to have their case dismissed or to have the trustee find issues with exemptions, property transfers in contemplation of bankruptcy, or dischargeability issues with creditors, including student loan creditors. According to the Pro Se Clerk for the Bankruptcy Court in Massachusetts, in 2013, 25% of Massachusetts’s pro se Chapter 7 cases were dismissed. This is compared with only a 2% dismissal rate in cases where the debtor had an attorney.  \nThe pro se dismissal rate, though compelling, understates the enormity of the problem. Without assistance, many clients who would benefit from bankruptcy do not ever file. There are many obstacles to people filing for bankruptcy on their own: lack of understanding of the law and procedures; misinformation about the possibility and effects of bankruptcy; lack of knowledge of the availability of fee waivers; and inability to complete electronic filing, to name a few. These obstacles are compounded for people with limited English proficiency, low literacy or levels of education, or cognitive impairments.  \nAnother major obstacle to filing observed by staff of VLP and other legal aid organizations is that clients have a difficult time gathering the information and documents that are needed to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Clients need to provide detailed information about debts and assets, which they may need help gleaning from piles of bills and other documents. They need credit reports, income verification, and property documents. While some clients are very capable of completing these preliminary steps, others cannot do it on their own. Yet, most legal aid and pro bono programs lack sufficient staff resources to meet this client need.  \nThis gap in services can have serious ","cbCaieOTB6CUBxAu","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieOTB6CUBxAu","pdf",2283685,42,"English","# Executive Summary\n## Project Design\n## Need Statement\n## Available Pro Bono Resources","[{\"question\":\"What does the PBIF-funded project aim to create?\",\"answer\":\"It will build a customized virtual law firm platform with guided online interviews and document assembly templates, alongside a volunteer-driven statewide clinic system.\"},{\"question\":\"Which pro bono legal need does the project address?\",\"answer\":\"It targets service delivery gaps in Chapter 7 bankruptcy representation for low-income clients, especially where pro bono lawyers are scarce and clients struggle to provide required documentation.\"},{\"question\":\"How will the project improve pro bono case handling and referrals?\",\"answer\":\"By increasing efficiency in evaluating, preparing, and referring bankruptcy cases through the online platform and leveraging experienced Boston staff and volunteer attorneys statewide.\"}]","PBIF Application - Executive Summary | PDF"]