Paralegals can be a powerful tool of justice, helping to resolve disputes and empower indi-vidual clients and whole communities. Living and working in the communities they serve, community-based paralegals use their knowledge of the formal justice system, alternative means of resolution such as mediation, and community education practices to help the poor and marginalized address their justice problems.

Less expensive than lawyers and able to work faster than the formal legal process, commu-nity-based paralegals are especially effective in transitional, post-conflict, and developing countries. In Sierra Leone, for example where there are only 10 judges and about 100 law-yers to meet the justice needs of over three million people-paralegals help resolve land dis-putes, negotiate divorce settlements, and hold government officials accountable. Perhaps more importantly, community-based paralegals can educate whole communities about their rights, increasing citizens' agency and helping them demand more from their governments.

This how-to guide provides information on all aspects of establishing and operating a com-munity-based paralegal program, from assessing a community's needs to training paralegals and resolving justice problems. The book includes case studies, training curricula, client intake forms, and other materials drawn from paralegal programs in Cambodia, Hungary, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and elsewhere. Community-based Paralegals: A Practitioner's Guide should be useful for anyone who wants to start a new paralegals program, improve an existing one, or learn more about paralegals and the legal empowerment of the poor.

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