Parents with custody and visitation legal issues, but without resources to hire attorneys, will be among self-represented court users benefiting from nine grants awarded statewide through the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
As part of a move to improve access to justice for pro se – or self-represented – litigants, the AOC, using federal grant funds, has awarded a total of $280,186 based on applicants’ written proposals. Recipients are Community Legal Center in Memphis; Community Mediation Services in Anderson County; Legal Aid of East Tennessee; the Memphis Bar Association; Southeast Legal Services in Hamilton County; Sumner County Juvenile Court; Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee serving Montgomery and Robertson counties; Mediation Services of Putnam County; and Weakley County Juvenile Court.
“The number of people using the court system without the benefit of legal counsel is increasing, not only in Tennessee, but across the nation,” said Connie Clark, administrative director of the courts. “Attorneys continue to be very generous with their programs providing free and reduced price legal services, but they cannot completely fill the need. With the help of several committees, including lawyers, judges and others, we are exploring how courts can meet the needs of those who, for whatever reason, are self represented. The initiatives proposed by these grant recipients will move us toward that goal.”
Proposals selected for the grants include establishing pro se clinics; providing information about the courts; assistance with parenting plans; facilitating mediation; providing legal forms; sponsoring workshops for pro se litigants; and making available attorney assistance. Grant awards ranged from $7,500 to $54,070.
Efforts to create programs for self-represented litigants were launched earlier this year when the AOC, using a $20,000 State Justice Institute grant, hosted a pro se summit for judges, lawyers, court clerks, pro se litigants and court personnel. Participants identified major barriers encountered by pro se court users and offered suggestions for removing them. A Pro Se Committee and subcommittees are studying the suggestions and also looking at initiatives other states already have in place.
“There are many excellent programs operating in other states, which will be a great help to us as we decide what reasonably can be done in Tennessee,” Clark said. “We are exploring several for which there will be no cost, such as using the court system website to provide forms and information, and also are looking at others we may not be able to accomplish yet. We have gotten a lot done in a short period of time and will continue to move as quickly as we can to ensure equal access to justice for everyone, including those who are self-represented.”