5(B). How do I receive instructions and evidence from my client if she/he is denied access to the outside world?

Clients who live in institutions are generally not allowed to leave the institution. They are therefore not able to gather evidence or to attend independent medical or legal appointments or court dates. Frequently, clients in institutions are denied access to telephones or denied visitors (especially if the lawyer does not have a power of attorney, or if the staff consider the power of attorney to be invalid). People in institutions often lack access to paper, pens and stamps to post letters or get to a post-box to ensure that letters are delivered. Incoming and outgoing mail may also be screened or held by staff or re-routed to the client’s guardian. There are often no computers with email capabilities. Information and communication challenges can be immense.