SelfHelpSupport.org

Become a Member of SelfHelpSupport.org
Membership is free. Click "Join this Area" on the left-hand side of this page.

Members include judges, clerks, court staff, legal aid advocates, bar association representatives, law school faculty, researchers, and others who work to increase access to justice.

This site and its materials are for non-commercial purposes only.

This site is not for self-represented litigants. If you need legal help, visit this list of helpful websites or go to LawHelp.org to find help in your states.

SelfHelpSupport.org supports pro se practioners through:

• A comprehensive Library of over 2,100 items;
• A monthly Newsletter that alerts you to the latest news and resources;
• A Network of over 4,000 pro se practitioners;
• E-mail Groups where you can share information and ask questions;
• National Conference Calls and Webinars where you can learn about initiatives; and
• A Networking and Mentoring Service to help you connect with others who have faced similar situations.

Our Library has a collection of publications gathered from self-help programs across the country. Resources relate to developing, running, and improving programs for the self-represented litigant. A few topics include:

• Self-Help Programs
• Unbundling Legal Services
• Ethics & Changing Roles
• Evaluation Tools & Reports
• Judicial Resources
• Collaborative Efforts
• Funding & Grants
• Language & Cultural Issues
• Pro Se Task Force Reports
• Self-Help Technology

Submit Content to SelfHelpSupport.org
To submit program materials, news, a link to your website, or an original article, e-mail Greg Hurley at ghurley@ncsc.org or use the "Add a Resource" feature in the Library, News, or Calendar areas.

Help Publicize SelfHelpSupport.org
Brochures for SelfHelpSupport.org can be accessed online. Feel free to print and distribute our brochure (front and back) or our press release.

Suggestions & Feedback
We want to make this site relevant and useful! Please submit suggestions and comments to Greg Hurley at ghurley@ncsc.org.

Many Thanks
Thank you to the State Justice Institute for funding this project in 2003 and 2005-2007. Without their financial assistance, this project would not be possible. We are also grateful for financial support from the Judicial Council of California, the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts, the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and the National Center for State Courts.

Pro Bono Net has provided the web platform and software that allows this site to function and the National Center for State Courts has managed this project since its conception in 2003. In addition, thanks to the many participating organizations that have contributed by providing input and in-kind support to this project.

Awards
SelfHelpSupport.org was awarded the prestigious Howell Heflin award from the State Justice Institute in 2005 for project excellence.

Both in 2004 and 2007, SelfHelpSupport.org was awarded a Top Ten Website Award from JusticeServed.com.

The points of view expressed on this website and in any documents herein do not necessarily reflect the views, official positions or policies of any of the participating organizations.

Visit our Gallery of Honor

Elkins Family Law Task Force Draft Recommendations

The Elkins Family Law Task Force invites the public and interested stakeholders to join in the dialogue for change in the family courts by providing comments on these draft recommendations. The draft recommendations have been organized under topic headings reflecting the broad range of issues in family law and the comprehensive approach the task force has taken in seeking to improve family court practice and procedure.

Ensuring Access to Justice in Tough Economic Times

This article addresses seven ways that courts can continue and develop self help programs with limited financial resources. it was written by Frank Broccolina and Richard Zorza.

An Impending Crisis in State Court Funding

This article is an editorial that was printed in Judicature and is encouraging a national debate on how to manage the state court funding crisis. It points out that many special programs are at risk of being eliminated.

Ethics in Transition: Unrepresented Litigants and the Changing Judicial Role

This article was originally published in Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy (Issue 2, 2008) and analyzes the changing ethical issues that self represented litigants bring to the judiciary. It was written by Russell Engler, a Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Programs at New England
School of Law.

Remarks of Chief Justice Broderick

Chief Justice Broderick gave a speech to the National Access to Justice Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 9, 2008. You can read a transcript of his inspiring words online.