Target Audience: Librarians who provide services to pro ses or are interested in providing access to the courts
Learning Outcomes:
1) Participants will be able to explain two examples of model programs to their stakeholders.
2) Participants will be able to compare federal, state, and county programs that assist self-represented litigants.
Federal courts assistance to self-represented litigants is relatively recent compared to efforts at state and county levels. This program will look at self-represented litigants in the federal courts, with an in-depth look at two pilot district court clerk’s office projects: the Pro Se Assistance Program in the Northern District of Illinois, which provides basic legal information and contacts with pro bono attorneys, and the Pro Se Pathfinder in the District of New Jersey, which is an electronic resource to help people determine whether they are eligible for bankruptcy and helps complete basic forms. Comparisons with state and county efforts will be made.