How to develop criteria for paralegal assistance Screening policies are an optional tool that can help decide whom to serve, when to serve them, and how. While projects generally have a target group, they often serve other groups as well, for various reasons. Serving the majority population can be a way to demonstrate balance and promote acceptance in the community. It also may be part of your own efforts to better understand and raise awareness of the problems your target group faces. They may be less likely to consider such cases urgent, but projects often have a “fast-track” in which urgent cases come to the top of the pile. You may be able to save time and resources by addressing simple cases through group meetings or written materials. In setting screening policies, ensure that your criteria is as objective and bias-free as possible. CASE STUDY ADC Memorial’s paralegals prioritize the most vulnerable clients in Russia and other former USSR countries. In Roma communities this is often young women and girls, who may be married before reaching the age to obtain a passport, or may be sent to another country for marriage. Once you have defined your criteria, the project should decide on an appropriate procedure for paralegals to follow to assess clients. This would take place after initial interviews with persons seeking assistance. In some cases, the type and scope of assistance to be provided is already determined. In others, a few questions can allow paralegals to prioritize cases. The sections below describe sample criteria that existing projects have used. Vulnerability factors Many projects give priority to clients with a greater number of vulnerability factors, from social to political to economic traits. Assessing vulnerability may not be easy. Questioning potentially fearful individuals about situations that may have affected them psychologically requires sensitivity and paralegal training should focus on how to do this politely. Some factors existing projects have used include: • Level of risk of exclusion • Level of risk of statelessness • Ineffective nationality • Young or old age • Gender • Single-parent households • Poverty • Illiteracy • Displacement • Conflict zone DISCRIMINATION EMPOWERMENT SUSTAINABILITY DATA RELATED RESOURCES (EXTERNAL) RELATED SECTIONS (WITHIN) • Health status • Orphans • Racial/ethnic disadvantage • Individuals outside tribal structures • Disability A C O M M U N I T Y- B A S E D P R A C T I T I O N E R ’ S G U I D E : D O C U M E N T I N G C I T I Z E N S H I P A N D OT H E R F O R M S O F L E G A L I D E N T I T Y | 93