MLRI: The Eviction Process

Challenge

Massachusetts needed accessible eviction training for pro bono volunteers

In Massachusetts, Lawyer for the Day programs consist of volunteer lawyers providing basic legal advice, in this case, housing law (evictions) to both landlords and tenants.

Training was an ongoing need across the state for all existing LFD programs as new volunteers join the ranks of those in court providing help. In addition, a training solution was needed for newly emerging LFD programs.

Because all current LFD training took place as face-to-face sessions, there was also a real need for an online curriculum to supplement existing LFD training and reach more people at the same time.

It was a joy to work with ThinkingKap. They responded promptly to our many inquiries and always treated us as a partner in developing our solutions. They were great listeners and spurred us to think critically about our goals for each part of the training, which guided us towards a better product. We also appreciated their patience and sense of humor throughout the process.

Learn more about our Course Conversion services and how Blended Learning can transform your training into a full-on learning experience.

Solution

Interactive components anchor new eviction law training program

By moving core concepts online and deepening live instruction, ThinkingKap’s approach expanded reach and increased overall training effectiveness.

Our approach was to create a baseline course on the eviction process to serve as a precursor to the live sessions. To make sure even new volunteers were properly oriented to the eviction process, we featured an interactive timeline as the central reference. This provided context around the sequence and timing of all the steps.

We used additional supports, like interactive calendars and guided tours of required forms. We also gave learners an “over-the-shoulder” view of sample dialogs between experienced volunteers and people seeking assistance.

Afterwards, learners were asked questions about why certain tactics were employed by the volunteers, to help solidify their ability to apply the law to real situations.

Approach

ThinkingKap created a foundation of key terms and procedures through pre-training primer

Because the eviction process is heavily step-based and time-dependent, we used an interactive timeline as the central focus of the training.

Interactive calendars outlined various steps in the eviction process and provided context to the timing of each milestone.

Impact

“The training was superb. The best online legal training I’ve ever seen. Clear. Comprehensive. The pop quizzes were invaluable. Terrific piece of work!”

Key learner outcomes

Shifted from tactical training to strategic focus in live sessions
Created foundational knowledge through pre-training primer
Increased overall training effectiveness through blended learning approach
Expanded reach to new audiences via online format
Enabled scalable training for law students and new housing attorneys

Previously, all LFD training occurred in face-to-face sessions, requiring instructors to cover fundamental concepts alongside practical skills. This time constraint often reduced the sessions to purely tactical instruction.

For this reason, the in-person training became more targeted once participants were given a primer on key terms, procedures, and the overall process prior to the training.

This freed up time for the in-person training to focus on strategic issues, making the entire experience much more effective. The online format also provides exposure to new audiences. The plan is to offer the course to law school programs who are training law students to go to housing court, and for new legal services housing attorneys.

Imagine the impact when strategic thinking meets scalable learning.

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