Representing oneself in court is a time-honored American tradition and is a constitutional right. Self-representation, when combined with the power of modern information technology can be an important means of providing increased access to the legal system. Self-representation raises concerns among judges for slowing down the court process and concerns among lawyers, both for economic reasons and for concerns about protecting the rights of pro ses. The thirty-five bars or courts from 27 states reporting activity in these areas are listed below. In Iowa, the Customer Service Advisory Committee is developing strategies to improve customer service in every Iowa courthouse including developing a set of principles and guidelines for clerks who assist pro se litigants.
Phoenix has one of the country s most sophisticated self-help centers for pro se litigants.
Maine is involved in a study to determine the most effective means of utilizing volunteers to assist pro se litigants.