Grand Opening of the 10th Circuit Legal Self-Help Center

Not a week goes by when someone associated with the college, one of my students, staff, faculty or someone referred to me by a student, staff or faculty, shows up at my office door in search of guidance on a legal issue. When possible I refer that individual to a local lawyer who can be of assistance. If applicable I refer the individual to Prairie State Legal Services. Often the individual has already tried either or both routes for legal assistance and because they either make too much in income for Prairie State to be able to help them or they make too little to either afford a lawyer or the issue or circumstance is such that it doesn’t justify the expense associated with hiring a lawyer. So, in response, I do what I can to help that individual. In the last couple of years those efforts have been helped by resources Lisa Wilson and Sandy Crow at Prairie State Legal Services Peoria office turned me on to from Illinois Legal Aid Online http://www.illinoislegalaidonline.org

Illinois Legal Aid Online and it’s sister sites for Legal Aid and Pro Bono lawyers has steadily grown to include an impressive catalog of documents, forms, videos and services that are invaluable when either providing pro bono legal service or in assisting an individual in finding resources to represent themselves. I’ve since joined their e-mail list and many of the people I have attempted to help in recent years have benefitted from access to these resources.

I had the opportunity to express my thanks to Lisa Colpoys, Executive Director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, in person today when Michelle Weghorst and I attended a press conference regarding the 10th Judicial Circuits Legal Self Help Center. http://peoria.illinoislegalaid.org Michelle and a long list of other individuals, including Court Administrator John Flynn (the “impetus”) and Lisa Wilson were very instrumental in helping get this initiative off the ground locally. And thanks in large part to the Illinois Legal Aid resources being available online the internet-based Legal Self-Help Center is now available for individuals who find themselves in the position of attempting to represent themselves in court without a lawyer.

As noted in the press release:

The Center is permanently located in the county law library of the Courthouse, 324 Main St, downtown, Peoria but access is available in other locations and our ICC Paralegal Interns will help serve as Navigators for this service.

"For the increasing number of people who are coming to court without an attorney, we hope that the new legal self-help center will provide legal information to help them in court. Many of these people cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Others, who may qualify for free legal aid, do not have an attorney because Prairie State Legal Services does not have enough attorneys to represent every person who seeks legal assistance," said Chief Judge Stuart Borden. "Almost all of the people coming into court without an attorney have only a vague idea of how the court system works. Without the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney, these people are at a serious disadvantage in court," he said.

"We strongly encourage everyone to have a lawyer in court," said Lisa Wilson, Managing Attorney of Peoria's Prairie State Legal Services Office. "We provide representation to as many low income people as we can, given our limited staff, but the reality is that we cannot help everyone. For those who cannot find or afford a lawyer, the legal self-help center will provide current and accurate legal information to assist these people in court,"
Wilson said.

The internet-based legal self-help center provides legal information and court documents on a broad array of simpler civil legal problems. The website also has videos explaining the court system and how to go to court. The front page of the website features a short welcoming video by Judge Borden and displays the hours of operation and location of the self-help center.

Follow the links and check these resources out today.