Navigating the eviction process is a daunting challenge for many Michigan residents, especially for those without legal representation. Every year, between 170,000 and 190,000 eviction cases are filed in Michigan, affecting about 1 in 6 households, with only 2% being represented by an attorney.

To help address this barrier, more than 20 students, faculty and legal professionals came together on Nov. 1 at the University of Michigan School of Information for a civic design workshop aimed at simplifying Michigan’s eviction court forms. 

The workshop was organized by Master of Science in Information student Rachael Zuppke, with support from lecturers in information Scott TenBrink and Rhea Acharya (MSI '24). Zuppke, who has a background in Michigan’s nonprofit and legal aid sectors, saw this as an opportunity for students and community partners to collaboratively tackle the complexities that tenants face in eviction proceedings. 

“I spent years helping people navigate the eviction process. It is a complicated and fast-paced system, and most tenants do not have the resources or help they need to understand the web of information and processes involved,” Zuppke said. “I set up this workshop so that student designers and community partners could work together to re-envision Michigan’s eviction forms, integrating feedback from Michigan residents, with the goal of making forms clear and actionable for those without legal training.”

The design workshop built on user testing by UMSI’s Civic User Testing Group, which gathered feedback from Michigan residents on information and usability issues they encountered when understanding and completing Michigan landlord-tenant forms. 

U-M’s Poverty Solutions initiative, which partners with communities and policymakers to find new ways to prevent and alleviate poverty through action-based research, cosponsored the event with UMSI. Attendees included representatives from the legal aid community, who shared insights based on their experiences working directly with tenants. 

"I learned a lot about the legal process in Michigan and the problems that tenants face," said MSI student and workshop participant Reuben Crasto. 

Nora Ryan, director of Michigan Legal Help, said this was “exactly the sort of innovative event we need to help break down barriers to justice and make our courts more accessible to the community.”

The workshop’s collaborative approach reflects a growing commitment within Michigan’s legal and educational communities to make the justice system more user-friendly and accessible for all.

Read the original story by U-M Poverty Solutions. 

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