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Law library's family‑law case review estimated to save Travis County about $1.1 million annually
Summary
The Laura J. Livingston Law Library's Family Law Case Review program was presented as producing roughly $1,093,100 in net benefit to the county through deferred court costs; presenters said the program returns about $2.50 for every dollar invested and that current staff are at capacity.
Lisa Rush, director of the Laura J. Livingston Law Library and Self Help Center, and Aaron (presented in transcript under speaker label 5) presented the law library's Family Law Case Review program and a cost‑benefit analysis.
"The Family Law Case Review Program staff...generate roughly $1,093,100 in net benefit to the county in cost time in court time deferred," the financial analyst said during the quarterly update. He added, "for every dollar that the county is investing in the law library's family law case review program, the county is getting $2.5 back in benefit in deferred court costs." Staff said the analysis was submitted to the budget office as a conservative estimate and that the full scope of benefit may be higher.
Library staff said the case review program helps litigants complete uncontested family law matters outside of in‑person hearings by preparing attorney‑reviewed submissions and orders, which both reduces hearing time and lowers demand on court resources. Lisa Rush reported the law library had 32,912 reference‑desk patron visits in FY25 (not unique patrons) and that case review is at capacity; staff said additional personnel could divert more cases from hearings and increase county savings.
