MN Courts Self-Help Center

1. MN Courts Self-Help Center Melissa Giernoth, J.D. MN Courts Self-Help Center Staff Attorney www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp (651)259-3888 – Call Center

2. GOALS • Expand your knowledge of the MN Courts Self- Help Center and pro se resources • Increase your ability to make quality referrals to the SHC website and call-center, and other legal resources • Introduce the SHC website for you to start using it as a work tool for responding to customer questions about laws, Rules, forms, procedures, legal resources, etc.

3. Self-Help Center Staff Melissa Giernoth (Staff Attorney) Melissa Kantola(Staff Attorney) Virginia Kuberski (Staff Attorney) Katrina Zabinski (Supervising Attorney)

4. “Access to Justice” and the MN Courts • Mission of equal access, and “Strategic Priority” to offer baseline level of pro se services statewide • MN Courts statewide “virtual” Self-Help Center • MN Rule Gen. Prac, Rule 110, Self-Help Programs • more than referrals – forms, instructions, 1:1 help • education on basic legal literacy • no legal advice • Partnerships – Public Libraries in Dakota and Hennepin Counties; MLSC; Bar Assoc.; etc.

5. Court Self-Help Centers in the MJB • Hennepin Co. Court: 2 walk-in SHCs (Family & Civil) • Ramsey Co. Court: 1 walk-in SHC (Family) • Washington Co Court: 1 walk-in SHC • County Law Libraries: • Legal advice clinic programs ~ 16 counties • Statewide “virtual” SHC offering information and services on 20+ legal topics via: • Website (since June ‘06) • SHC workstations (since June ‘07) • Call-center (since April ‘08) • Email (since June ‘06) • Forms Screening (since June ‘10)

6. Access to “virtual” Self-Help Center • Self-Help Center website on the Internet www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp • Self-Help computer workstations with Internet access • All 87 county courthouses • Some public libraries (Hennepin & Dakota) • One-on-one help via call-center and email • M-F 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (651)259-3888 • New & updated legal content and tools with emphasis on “plain language” and ease of use • Different resources at specific District Courts

7. Public Pro Se Workstation Sibley County Courthouse

8. Role of Self-Help Center • Educate on court forms & procedures • Refer to legal services, advice & resources • Present legal workshops for pro se parties via ITV (i.e. child support workshops) • Screen MJB court forms (since July ‘10) • 1,162 I-CAN! and 9 “other” forms • Develop content & technology tools • “how to” videos • Court forms

9. Co-Browsing Technology – Team Viewer • Remote access into user’s computer to:Navigate | Screen Forms | Trouble-shoot • No software needed on user side • File transfer, chat, presentations, etc.

10. Projected 350

11. Projected 1600

12. Family Law related topics: • I-CAN! • Divorce • Custody/P.T. • Child Support • Family – Other • Paternity

13. Guidelines for Referral to SHC • MN State law issues in District or Conciliation Court • Case can be in any County in MN (service not based on income) • Questions on court forms & procedures • Ability to read and follow instructions. Not ideal for those with low literacy (except some videos and LEP materials) • User has a complex or contested case, or needs legal advice? Refer to Find a Lawyer page on SHC website

14. Legal Advice v. Legal Information • Interpreting some aspect of the law, court rules, or court procedures or recommending a specific course of action a court user should take • Appling the law to a court user’s specific factual circumstances to further his or her own interests • Telling a court user “what to do” rather than “how to do it” • Answering questions about court rules, procedures, and ordinary practices • Providing court forms, instructions, handouts • Answering questions about completing forms, but not providing legal arguments or theories • Explaining terms and documents used in court cases or the purpose of a hearing • Providing case-specific information from MNCIS, if it’s public

15. Legal Information or Legal Advice? • Providing forms and instructions to court users • Telling a court user whom to name as a defendant in the complaint • Explaining common, routinely employed court rules and procedures to a court user • Suggesting what evidence to present at court and what objections to make • Informing a court user of his or her options and how to carry out an option • Recommending the use of an attorney

16. FAQs for Probate & other topics • My family member just passed away – what do I do now? • How do I become personal representative or get a letter that the bank says I need? • How do I file for divorce? • How do I find (x) to serve them paperwork? • What is the filing fee? Where do I file? • How can I get some free legal advice? • How do I sue (x) for money they owe me? • How can I find out what happened in my case?

17. MN Courts on the Internet MN Judicial Branch www.mncourts.gov District Courts www.mncourts.gov/district/10 Self Help Center www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp Court Forms www.mncourts.gov/forms Tip: Short & easy URLs to give over the phone, or include on brochures, handouts, etc.

18. A closer look…..

25. Thank You! • We welcome and encourage feedback, questions, and suggestions for improvements on SHC website, development of forms, etc. • If interested in training in your local courthouse please feel free to email or call us • You can reach us through our “Contact Us” page, call during call-center hours or call us directly