Central District of California - 2012 Pro Se Annual Report

Assistance from Volunteers and Nonprofit Organizations

prevnext

Once again, the bedrock of assistance to self-represented litigants was the network of dedicated volunteers and nonprofit organizations supporting programs throughout the district.

PRO BONO SERVICES IN EACH DIVISION

The summaries of each clinic reported in the following section attest to the phenomenal community service of the professionals working in these communities and their dedication to ensuring access to the Bankruptcy Court. Over 9,000 people were served in 2012 by approximately 300 volunteers. [See Table 5] The people served were both creditors and debtors, and the debtors may or may not have actually filed bankruptcy. Where their status was known, it is noted below. Often, the record keeping kept by these very busy organizations does not detail the nature of the assistance sought and what the individual did following contact with the service. At the very least, the clinics are able to track that these individuals received either an attorney referral or legal assistance when they came to the courthouse without counsel. As a result, they may have been able to avoid employing one of the many non-lawyers giving legal advice, or worse, one of the many businesses defrauding distressed homeowners. The judges and clerks were able to assist other litigants instead of being asked for legal advice which they are not permitted to give; and those that did file papers were much more likely to use the correct forms and provide the needed information.

  1. Los Angeles Division
  2. San Fernando Valley Division
  3. Santa Ana Division
  4. Riverside Division
  5. Northern Division