And there has been one truly magnificent effort, by the Family Law Division of the Superior Court for Maricopa County, Arizona to throw open court procedures to non-lawyers. For the most part, the suggestions set out here require not money but changes in attitude, rules and procedures. Recognize that bias exists. The best way for a lawyer to understand bias against the self-represented litigant is to become one, an experience I recently went through in a civil proceeding. After I stood my ground, the judge warned me that I would be held responsible for meticulously complying with every court rule.
Lawyers can also learn a lot by coaching a self-represented person through a judicial procedure.
Accept the right of the self-represented to equal access. Because lawyers and courts are so intertwined, it seems almost reasonable to legal professionals that lawyers are needed for meaningful access. Adopt the principle of helpfulness underlying the multi-door courthouse. Courts should actively help people find an appropriate resolution process. Use existing community legal resources to staff the multi-door courthouse.