Editing Openai/6929f2d7-e4f0-8005-804f-51251a143fae (section)

=== 📘 1. FULL HANDBOOK — “Peer Mentor Legal Research Guide” (Printable) ===

(You can turn this into a PDF immediately — or say “create the PDF” and I will generate it.)

WritingPEER MENTOR LEGAL RESEARCH HANDBOOKFor Veterans Court, Mental Health Court, Drug Court & CPS / Family CourtInitial / Preliminary Paralegal Research Support

Prepared for: Peer Support MentorsPrepared by: [Your Name]

==== SECTION 1 — ROLE & ETHICS ====
# PURPOSEPeer mentors support clients by identifying issues, organizing facts, and conducting preliminary legal research to brief defense attorneys. This handbook provides standardized tools and workflows.
# BOUNDARIES• You are NOT providing legal advice.• All research is PRELIMINARY only.• Attorneys make all decisions regarding strategy.• Your role is to flag issues, organize information, and support communication.
# CONFIDENTIALITY• Maintain strict confidentiality consistent with court rules.• Never store sensitive records in unsecured devices.• Never share client information with anyone except the defense team.

==== SECTION 2 — THE 5-STEP WORKFLOW ====

STEP 1 — CLIENT INTAKE & TIMELINEGather:• Incident summary• Dates, locations• Prior treatment history• VA records (if veteran)• CPS involvement (if applicable)

STEP 2 — ISSUE SPOTTINGUse the “Issue Spotting Checklist” to identify:• Procedural errors• Constitutional concerns• Diversion eligibility• Mental health / addiction factors• CPS / ICWA issues

STEP 3 — INITIAL AI RESEARCHUse FREE legal AI tools:• Ask LII AI• Justia AI• FindLaw AI• VA Navigator• Child Welfare Gateway AI• Google Scholar → summarized by AI• CourtListener

Research topics:• Relevant statutes• Case law summaries• Diversion requirements• CPS timelines• VA benefit/mitigation issues

STEP 4 — DRAFT PRELIMINARY ISSUE MEMOUse the Memo Template to:• Summarize facts• Identify issues• Attach AI research summaries• Highlight mitigation factors• List questions for the attorney

STEP 5 — ATTORNEY BRIEFINGProvide:• 1-page summary• Supporting documents• Questions requiring attorney input

==== SECTION 3 — RESEARCH TECHNIQUES ====

A. HOW TO ASK AI LEGAL QUESTIONSRecommended prompts:• “Summarize the legal standard for ___ in [state].”• “Find major cases involving ___.”• “Explain the CPS removal process in [state].”• “Summarize case law on PTSD as mitigation.”

B. HOW TO VERIFY• Compare multiple sources.• Pull statute directly from LII or state website.• Notify attorney if you cannot verify something.

C. HOW TO SUMMARIZESummaries should include:• Rule• Key facts• Court’s reasoning• How it relates to the client

==== SECTION 4 — COURT-SPECIFIC GUIDES ====

VETERANS COURTKey factors:• PTSD, MST, TBI• Service connection• VA disability appeal status• Military trauma timelineAI Tools:• VA Navigator• Justia Veterans Law• LII Federal Statutes

MENTAL HEALTH COURTKey factors:• Competency• Civil commitment• Dual diagnosis• Medication complianceAI Tools:• SAMHSA Navigator• Justia Mental Health• State Mental Health Code (LII AI)

DRUG COURTKey factors:• Addiction severity• Treatment history• Relapse cycles• Search & seizure issuesAI Tools:• FindLaw Drug Crimes• Google Scholar Case Law• Justia Criminal Procedure

CPS / FAMILY COURTKey factors:• Reasonable efforts• Safety plan flaws• ICWA compliance• Case plan deficienciesAI Tools:• Child Welfare Info Gateway AI• ICWA.gov AI• Justia Family Law

==== SECTION 5 — TEMPLATES ====

INCLUDED:• Preliminary Issue Memo• Issue Spotting Checklist• Attorney Briefing Sheet• Client Intake & Legal Map• Court-Specific Templates

END OF HANDBOOK