The eLawyering Task Force was pleased to give the Legal Aid Society of Orange County the James Keane Award for Excellence in eLawyering for its Legal Genie Project (www.legalgenie.com) at this year’s ABA TECHSHOW. Accepting the award were Robert Cohen, executive director, and Anna Lisa Bisson, director of fund development.

Legal Genie is designed for people who do not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford the full services of an attorney. Using web-based document automation, the site asks simple questions and puts answers on the forms in the correct places. Members of the local Lawyers Referral Service panel provide phone consultations, review documents, and give legal advice on an unbundled basis. For an affordable, fixed fee, clients receive both automated and human assistance. Family law and bankruptcy matters are presently supported.

Legal Genie is an innovative service that is already delivering real benefits both to the public and the profession. It’s a great example of collaboration between a nonprofit legal services program and the private bar. As the site says, “Legal Genie combines the magic of technology with the help of a professional at a price you can afford.”

For information on nominations for the 2012 Award and the work of the eLawyering Task Force, visit www.lawpractice.org.