A new pilot program will connect self-represented litigants in Illinois to legal assistance and information at their local public libraries.
Court Access Library Centers will provide space, dedicated equipment, and trained librarians to help self-represented litigants navigate the legal system, appear in court remotely, obtain legal information and resources, and e-file and access court documents online, according to a press release.
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) and the Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) partnered with Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office on the program. It launched in 18 pilot locations in 11 judicial circuits last month.
To learn more about the initiative, we connected with Alison Spanner, Director of the ATJ Commission, and Judge Jill C. Marisie, Presiding Judge in the Third Municipal District – Rolling Meadows and Chair of the CBF Steering Committee for the project.
How will the Court Access Library Centers work?
Volunteer librarians at each pilot location are trained to provide legal information and assist those navigating the legal system on their own.
Librarians are prohibited from providing legal advice, Spanner said, but can provide services listed in the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Assistance to Court Users by Circuit Clerks, Court Staff, Law Librarians, and Court Volunteers (“Safe Harbor Policy”).
“[The library volunteers] provide more localized resource centers for people without lawyers and the focus is not on the law or statutes but on how to navigate the legal process,” Judge Marisie said. “The program quite literally provides access to justice to those with access constraints. Self-represented litigants can even sign up to use laptops for brief remote court proceedings.”
Additionally, some librarians will be trained as certified “Court Library Navigators,” who can offer more customized legal information, including in cases like divorce and child custody; domestic violence; wills, trusts, and estates; housing; and consumer debt, the press release said.
Where are the centers located?
After considering several demographic and court user data, 18 pilot program locations were chosen across the state, according to the press release.
“The pilot locations were primarily selected by looking at those libraries with the infrastructure to support the project as well as those located in heavily populated areas, with limited or lack of access to public transportation and limited technological capabilities,” Judge Marisie said, noting that they would like to expand the program to other areas of the state.
The participating locations received training this summer and are now up and running. The full list of library locations, which range from Chicago to Carbondale, can be found here.
How lawyers can get involved?
While lawyers cannot volunteer for the program, Spanner notes that there are other ways they can support people in their communities who struggle to access legal help.
“Several public libraries throughout the state offer Lawyer in the Library programs where lawyers offer advice or brief services,” she said. “If there is lawyer interest, we can look into adding such programs to these pilot sites.”
Both Spanner and Judge Marisie said the best way for lawyers or bar associations to support the program is to spread the word to members of the public.
“Lawyers are not able to take everyone’s cases, but it can be incredibly helpful to guide those folks to the resources that can help them. Knowing which libraries in your community are participating will empower lawyers to refer people to those libraries for help finding court forms and e-filing them, for example,” Spanner said.
For more information about Court Access Library Center locations and resources, self-represented litigants are encouraged to call Illinois Court Help at 833-411-1121.
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