2008 Annual Report - Superior Court of California - County of Los ...

Self-Help
Courthouses can be confusing places, and the plethora of
forms that must be filled out can be intimidating.
During the 1990s, the number of individuals appearing
without counsel in the county grew significantly. Without
funds to engage a lawyer, needy litigants were often forced to
fend for themselves in the courts.
In court parlance, self-represented parties are deemed as appearing in propria persona, Latin
for “in one’s own person.” Our family law staffers assist these individuals, and we also provide
multiple resource centers and online services.
To help self-represented parties and others seeking guidance, we expanded and refined
our services in 2007. These efforts include additional Internet functions and brochures and
new self-help centers in Norwalk, Santa Monica and San Fernando.
The early success of the Norwalk center demonstrates the pent-up demand for better
resources for self-represented litigants. Even before
its official opening, the Norwalk location was
serving more than 100 people a day in a small space
with only four computer stations.
Last year, 46,241 customers were helped at the
Court’s largest Resource Center for Self-
Represented Litigants at the Stanley Mosk
Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
An estimated 20 percent were Spanish-speakers.
The center spans 14,000 square feet, housing four
workshop rooms, 40 available work spaces for
litigants and 12 public computers.
Although the focus is on family law matters, the facility also has free legal assistance for
landlord-tenant, probate and domestic violence matters. Important day-of-hearing clinics can
be scheduled at the center to update documents, correct documents’ deficiencies and prepare
litigants for a courtroom appearance at a family law default hearing.
In addition to Mosk, another estimated 115,000 customers were helped at the three new
centers in Norwalk, Santa Monica and San Fernando and the self-help
facilities at the Compton, Inglewood, Lancaster, Long Beach, Pomona,
Torrance and Van Nuys courthouses.
At the resource centers, services and resources are recommended
following a review of a person’s case. Those with relatively simple cases can
use the available forms, do-it-yourself legal publications and online forms
and legal information to work on their cases with limited assistance.
Unusual or complex cases are referred to legal aid providers and the Los
Angeles County Bar Association’s attorney referral service.
Paralegals and volunteers at all 11 self-help centers aid clients in
preparing legal documents for final review by an attorney. Every location
Los Angeles Superior Court Annual Report 17