The Spangenberg Group has conducted numerous studies throughout the United States concerning the unmet civil legal needs of low-income persons. Methodology for these studies combines three primary elements: a telephone survey of low-income individuals within the jurisdiction under review; a mail questionnaire to all providers of free civil legal services in the area; and extensive on-site interviews with individuals familiar with the legal needs of low-income people, individuals who directly provide these services, and members of the three branches of government who are involved with legal services policy, funding and case adjudication. We have conducted studies on unmet civil legal needs on behalf of the following organizations:

• The Hawaii Legal Needs Commission (This statewide study was the first to examine the unmet civil legal needs of moderate-income families in addition to low-income families.)
• The Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Foundation
• The Wisconsin Bureau on Aging, with the American Bar Association Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly (This study reviewed the unmet civil legal needs of elders, and assessed Wisconsin's unique lay advocate/regional attorney model of delivering legal services to elders.)
• The New York State Bar Association
• Monroe County Bar Association (New York)
• The Illinois Lawyers Trust Fund, the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association
• Maine Commission on Legal Needs (telephone survey of low-income individuals)
• American Bar Association (nationwide survey)
• The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association