When we think about court proceedings, we tend to imagine lawyers in front of a judge. But in civil cases, most people — more than 80% of litigants — are on their own.
Access to the justice system is a fundamental right in our democracy. Yet navigating civil court proceedings can be confusing and frightening for those who can’t afford an attorney. This is especially true for people who are living in poverty, have limited English proficiency or have experienced the trauma of homelessness or domestic violence.
Over nearly 20 years, these centers have been the key to the courthouse door for more than 1.5 million people in Los Angeles County. In 2019 alone, more thanreceived help at the centers, at the minuscule cost to the county of just $18 per litigant. Yet it may soon disappear, despite the fact that the entire self-help network accounts for a tiny fraction of a percent of the county’s budget.
Litigants in 60% of the family law cases filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts are served in the self-help centers, and close to half of them are women taking the first legal steps toward independence. They come to the courthouse, often in the midst of crisis, to find the legal tools they need to escape abuse and seek justice.
At the centers, litigants find staff trained to deal with trauma and volunteers who provide free assistance and guidance with emergency protective orders, divorces and custody orders. Staff members also connect parties to additional social support to help them and their children find safety and stability in their lives. Without the Self-Help Legal Access Centers, what will happen when these individuals go to the courthouse for help? They may leave and never come back.
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