Self-Help Centers

See All Topics

As a result of the spectacular efforts of our members during the last decade, there is a robust menu of Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) service options that have been tested and refined under a variety of conditions by a wide variety of providers. SRLN recently confirmed that forty-two states have adopted at least some SRLN best practices recommendations with respect to self-help centers and related reforms, and ten of these states have been able to develop comprehensive SRL service delivery systems such that every person in those states have access to some level of legal self-help. In addition to trial court reforms, SRL reforms have also made headway into the appellate courts.

Open to the Public – 2024 How Law Libraries are Serving Self-Represented Litigants Across the Country
The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network with the American Association of Law Libraries Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section Best A2J Practices Committee surveyed law libraries about their services to the self-represented litigant, including self-help programs. Results are displayed in this Story Map. This research and analysis was developed to expand SRL services among law libraries by demonstrating best practices for assisting SRLs.
Year published: 2024
Document Author: SRLN
Map Gallery Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Academic Libraries Law Libraries Public Libraries
News: Self-Help Innovations in Maryland (News 2021)
The Maryland Court Help Center 2021 Provider Conference offered a glimpse into some of the cutting edge innovations in self-help in the COVID era.1  
Year published: 2021
Document Author: SRLN
100% Access to Justice Strategic Planning Courts Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Managing a Self-Help Center Linking a Self-Help Center to Other Services
Reaching SRLs During COVID: Outreach Campaigns Leverage Social Media, Ad Spots, and Traditional Print to Ensure SRLs Know Self-Help Support Is Still Available (News 2021)
With in-person support for SRLs limited or halted due to COVID, a significant number of self-help services are continuing to serve the public even when their court might be closed. The challenge in this circumstance becomes how to tell the public that self-help is available when the court says it’s closed.  Outreach strategies are particularly critical at a time when more people than ever find themselves in need of legal guidance on COVID related issues ranging from tenants’ rights to unemployment law.
Year published: 2021
Document Author: News, SRLN
Self-Help Centers
COVID-19 Resources
This page will be updated as more resources are identified. Last updated 12-9-20.SRLN COVID Response Memos 
Year published: 2020
Document Author: SRLN
100% Access to Justice Self-Help Centers Libraries
Guide: Guidelines for the Operation of Self-Help Centers in California Trial Courts (California 2011)
The Administrative Office of the Courts, in collaboration with judges, court executive officers, attorneys, and other parties with demonstrated interest in services to self-represented litigants, is charged with the development of these guidelines for dissemination to the trial courts by March 1, 2008, and thereafter to review them every three years. The attached document reflects the guidelines for the delivery of comprehensive statewide court based self-help in California.
Year published: 2008, 2011
Document Author: California Judicial Council Center for Families Children & the Courts
Self-Help Centers Trial Court Self-Help 100% Access to Justice Courts Managing a Self-Help Center Linking a Self-Help Center to Other Services Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Strategic Planning Evaluating a Self-Help Center
Tool: CA Self-Help Centers' Self-Assessment Tool for Quality Programs (CA Courts 2018)
The California Self-Help Centers’ Self-Assessment Tool for Quality Programs was developed as a strategic and tactical planning template to promote quality Self-Help Center Programs across California. The tool is designed to connect a wide range of initiatives within the Judicial Branch, and to intentionally develop systems to interconnect the larger court system with self-help programs. The Tool is designed to:
Year published: 2018
Document Author: California Judicial Council Center for Families Children & the Courts, Superior Court of California, County of Butte SHARP Program
Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Evaluation Best Practices Surveys Tools for Evaluating Self-Help Programs and Services Self-Help Centers Trial Court Self-Help Starting a Self-Help Center Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Managing a Self-Help Center Linking a Self-Help Center to Other Services Evaluating a Self-Help Center
Survey: SRLN Library Working Group National Self-Help in Libraries Survey (SRLN 2019)
SRLN Report (March 2021) Evaluating Library Services to Self-Represented Litigants: A Story of Two Surveys The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network surveyed law libraries in the summer of 2019 about their services, including self-help programs. Learn more about best practices and full survey results in this story map.
Year published: 2019
Document Author: SRLN
Map Gallery Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Academic Libraries Law Libraries Public Libraries
Resource: Title IV-D Funding Resource Guide (SRLN 2014, revised 2017)
Many state court systems and individual courts take advantage of federal funding under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act to obtain reimbursement for the costs of adjudicating child support and paternity matters when hearings are handled by persons other than “judges” under state law.
Year published: 2014; 2017
Document Author: Self-Represented Litigation Network, Richard Zorza, Lee Morhar, John Greacen, Karen Lash, Katherine Alteneder, Renee Danser
Courts Reports Self-Help Centers Funding Funding Strategies
Report: Clearing a Path to Justice (MD Working Group on Self-Representation 2007)
This Report is a useful example for jurisdictions thinking about how to build analysis and support as they develop self-help services. From the table of contents: The Work Group on Self-Representation in the Maryland Courts .....................................1 Aiding the Self-Represented in Navigating the Judicial System.........................................4 Current Efforts and Initiatives..............................................................................................4
Year published: 2007
Document Author: Maryland Judiciary
Strategic Planning Reports Self-Help Centers Starting a Self-Help Center Linking a Self-Help Center to Other Services
SRLN Brief: Intro to Design Thinking (SRLN 2017)
In the Access to Justice space, design thinking practices from the technology space are increasingly embraced to improve the way people access legal services and to improve and simplify the processes themselves. Reviewing practices around the country, we see that sustainable innovation in the access to justice space happens when design thinking is adopted and implemented in our core practices, and when that happens we can effectively identify where technology can offer scalable, sustainable and accessible resources.
Year published: 2017
Document Author: Katherine Alteneder, Eduardo Gonzalez
Human Centered Design 100% Access to Justice Simplification Triage Strategic Planning ATJ Commissions Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Plain Language & LEP Articles & SRLN Briefs