The article reviews the causes of the increase in pro se litigation in the US. Inability to pay is only one of many reasons a litigant will end up going to court pro se. The current state of legal services in the US is failing the people who need help the most. Most clients receive only advice on how to proceed on their own.
Policymakers and Funders
Family Law Information Centers: An Evaluation of Three Pilot Programs
This study looked at the impact of pilot programs which established information centers for litigants in family law cases who did not have attorneys. The survey was taken from 1364 customers at the three Family Law Information Centers and 24 judges who oversee family law cases.
Findings of the Civil Legal Aid Opinion Research
In this video, Celinda Lake presents her research findings and recommendations for building awareness of the role of civil legal aid.
How a Civil Right to Counsel Can Help Dismantle Poverty in America’s Inner Cities
The article suggests that a civil right to counsel can be a powerful tool to enhance low-income inner-city neighborhoods, empower those who live there, and create new opportunities, new choices, and socioeconomic mobility in our cities.
An Early Assessment of the Civil Justice System After the Financial Crisis: Something Wicked This Way Comes?
In 2009 and 2010, researchers at the RAND Institute for Civil Justice examined the impact of the financial crisis on the civil justice system (e.g., courts, access to civil attorneys). The authors conclude that the effects of the financial crisis on the civil justice system may serve as an indicator of broader economic disruption.
