The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) has awarded $500,000 to 15 new and existing legal self-help centers across the state thanks to support from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and funding appropriated by the state legislature in Fiscal Year 2023. The Justice for All Commission (JFAC) advocated for resources to expand legal assistance and self-help services throughout Michigan as part of its effort to achieve 100 percent access to justice.
“We applaud these programs for their efforts in ensuring that more people in Michigan are able to access legal resources and information when needed,” said Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra, who serves as JFAC Chair. “Our goal is 100 percent access and legal self-help centers are a critical step toward achieving that goal.”
Grant recipients include:
• 36th Circuit Court of Van Buren County ($10,650)—Grant funds will be used as 36th Circuit Court partners with the 11 public libraries within Van Buren County to establish a network of self-help center services.
• County of Hillsdale ($14,989)—Grant funds be used to establish a legal self-help center within the Hillsdale County Courthouse that includes a computer kiosk and printer to utilize with Michiganlegalhelp.org.
• 36th District Court in Detroit ($23,000)—Grant funds will be used to establish a legal self-help center within the lobby of the court’s civil division.
• 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Genesee County ($100,000)—Grant funds will be used to establish a staffed legal self-help center within the courthouse consisting of eight computer kiosks with printing abilities.
• Berrien County Trial Court ($7,238)—Grant funds will be used to purchase of computer equipment to expand service capacity and enhance usability at the courthouse.
• Gogebic County Trial Courts ($3,000)—Grant funds will be to augment current kiosks available in the courthouse to add another kiosk and upgrade existing computers to meet increasing technological demands.
• Washtenaw County/Eastern Michigan University Legal Resource Center ($6,000)—Grant funds will be used to purchase a computer kiosk and scanner to expand the scope of self-help services currently offered in the courthouse.
• Jackson District Library ($18,575)—Grant funds will be used add four additional computer kiosks to its Carnegie library branch self-help center, and one kiosk each in the Brooklyn and Concord branch locations.
• Millington Arbela District Library ($24,301)—Grant funds will be used to provide dedicated staff to assist patrons at the existing self-help center, expand services to provide notary services, and to partner with the University of Detroit Mercy to host two expungement clinics.
• 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County ($30,500)—Grant funds will be used to hire a part-time volunteer coordinator and purchase four additional computer kiosks and printers to improve timely access to self-help services within the courthouse.
• Allegan County Legal Assistance Center ($39,195)—Grant funds will be used to establish a remote services pilot project to assist individuals via Zoom to augment the in-demand, in-person services it already provides in the courthouse.
• Oakland County Clerk’s Office ($40,000)—Grant funds will be used to provide staffing for the existing legal self-help center at the courthouse through a relationship with Oakland University’s paralegal program.
• Southwest Counseling Solutions in Detroit ($66,135)—Grant funds will be used to hire additional staff to expand capacity at the existing legal self-help center site, as well as within the community.
• Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center ($65,000)—Grant funds will be used primarily to add additional staff and expand the Center’s existing service capacity.
• Legal Assistance Center, Grand Rapids ($51,417)—Grant funds will be used to add additional staff to increase service capacity and reduce wait times, and to purchase additional computer equipment for staff and patron use.
The program was developed to help expand existing self-help centers and establish new centers in Michigan. The maximum award available was up to $100,000 for new self-help centers and up to $75,000 for existing centers.
The grant program will continue to award funds each year that funds are available. The JFAC is hoping to secure an increase in this amount in future years after more data on the usage and utility of self-help centers is available.
Legal self-help centers provide services to people who are seeking to solve legal problems through providing legal information, forms, resources, guidance, and referrals. These services and tools help educate and empower self-help center visitors to more effectively advocate for themselves within the legal system. The first legal self-help center in Michigan was established in 2002, and 26 centers have been established since then.
The legal self-help centers often facilitate access to Michigan Legal Help, an online resource dedicated to providing free information (not legal advice) to anyone in Michigan who is navigating a legal matter without an attorney. MLH offers information on issues ranging from housing to employment to child custody—and much more.
The JFAC was created by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2021.
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