For the third year, the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) is accepting applications for its legal self-help center grant program, which will award and disburse $500,000 appropriated by the state legislature in Fiscal Year 2025 to expand legal self-help center services across the state. The application period ends July 14. The Justice for All Commission (JFAC) advocated for resources, such as these grants, to expand legal assistance and self-help services throughout Michigan as part of its effort to achieve 100 percent access to the civil justice system.
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra, who serves as JFAC chair, said “Legal self-help centers are extremely effective in meeting people where they are, which makes them essential to ensuring access to justice for everyone.”
For selected grantees, the grant period will start on October 1, 2024, and end September 30, 2025. Nonprofit and governmental organizations seeking to expand existing self-help centers and establish new centers in Michigan are eligible to apply. The maximum award amount is up to $100,000 for grant proposals establishing a new self-help center and up to $75,000 for proposals to expand services of existing centers.
The grant program will continue to award funds each year that funds are available. The JFAC is hoping to secure an increased amount in future years after more data on the usage and utility of self-help centers is available.
“Our goal is to educate and empower self-help center visitors to more effectively advocate for themselves within the legal system,” said JFAC Vice Chair and Michigan Legal Help Interim Director Nora Ryan.
The JFAC was created by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2021.
Legal self-help centers provide services to people who are seeking to solve legal problems through providing legal information, forms, resources, guidance, and referrals. The first legal self-help center in Michigan was established in 2002, and 26 centers have been established since then.
For the Grant Program Guidelines, contact Noah A. Bradow, councils and commissions manager, at BradowN@courts.mi.gov or 517-373-4601.
Grarant application materials must be submitted via email to JFAC@courts.mi.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. on July 14. Applicants should use the following subject line for materials: “FY25 Self-Help Center Grant Application Materials.”
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra, who serves as JFAC chair, said “Legal self-help centers are extremely effective in meeting people where they are, which makes them essential to ensuring access to justice for everyone.”
For selected grantees, the grant period will start on October 1, 2024, and end September 30, 2025. Nonprofit and governmental organizations seeking to expand existing self-help centers and establish new centers in Michigan are eligible to apply. The maximum award amount is up to $100,000 for grant proposals establishing a new self-help center and up to $75,000 for proposals to expand services of existing centers.
The grant program will continue to award funds each year that funds are available. The JFAC is hoping to secure an increased amount in future years after more data on the usage and utility of self-help centers is available.
“Our goal is to educate and empower self-help center visitors to more effectively advocate for themselves within the legal system,” said JFAC Vice Chair and Michigan Legal Help Interim Director Nora Ryan.
The JFAC was created by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2021.
Legal self-help centers provide services to people who are seeking to solve legal problems through providing legal information, forms, resources, guidance, and referrals. The first legal self-help center in Michigan was established in 2002, and 26 centers have been established since then.
For the Grant Program Guidelines, contact Noah A. Bradow, councils and commissions manager, at BradowN@courts.mi.gov or 517-373-4601.
Grarant application materials must be submitted via email to JFAC@courts.mi.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. on July 14. Applicants should use the following subject line for materials: “FY25 Self-Help Center Grant Application Materials.”
