Self-Represented Litigants

Self-Represented Litigants

The number of people using the courts without the assistance of a lawyer has exploded. We focus much of our efforts on thinking through how courts can be responsive to the needs of one of their largest user bases. We can help you think through navigator programs, plain language, legal information, and much more.

Tiny Chats

Tiny Chats are bite-sized annotated videos that touch on specific access to justice topics and court operations.

Watch videos.

Resources

State court considerations for the changing "notice and publication" environment
Learn the reasons why state courts should consider the practice of publishing court notices on judicial websites as opposed to traditional practices of publication by newspaper.
Download PDF File (2.0 MB)
To require a notarized signature or not: A simplified workflow for reviewing court form signature requirements
This resource contains information about replacing the "notary step" that certain states require in efforts to increase access to justice.
Download PDF File (207.3 KB)
Court-Based Self Help Centers National Survey Findings, Recommendations, and Best Practices
This report details key findings from a 2022 national survey of self-help centers and pairs the insights with recommendations to support self-help centers in their efforts to provide a vital service to their communities.
Download PDF File (840.7 KB)
Service Modernization Brief
This document has suggestions, best practices, and sample rules and forms for states that are interested in revising their service rules and related forms.
Download PDF File (345.3 KB)
Self-Represented e-Filing: Surveying the Accessible Implementations
This survey highlights self-represented accessible features: equal access, fee-waivers, accommodating the unbanked, self-help resource availability, non-English resources, and disability-related accommodations.
Download PDF File (1.1 MB)
Vermont Judiciary Access and Resource Center: Planning Report and Recommendations
This report identifies ways to leverage a self-help and language access and resource center bringing a national perspective and examples of best practices and innovations.
Download PDF File (2.3 MB)
Nebraska SRL report
This report offers recommendations that include process simplification efforts, development of statewide self-help tools, better coordination of state and local self-help resources, increased staff and judicial training, and improved data collection and analysis.
Download PDF File (22.5 MB)
Assessment of SRL services Kansas Judicial Branch
This report offers recommendations that include process simplification efforts, development of statewide self-help tools, better coordination of state and local self-help resources, increased staff and judicial training, and improved data collection and analysis.
Download PDF File (2.3 MB)

Tools

Wyandotte County, Kansas Traffic Pass

An application that will ask users questions about their goals after receiving a traffic ticket and then provide them with the direction they need to achieve that goal.

A2J Videos

The video series aims to demystify complex legal terminology and provide information about court processes, which can help better prepare litigants for hearings.