California is experiencing a significant increase in the numbers of individuals appearing before the court without professional legal representation on a variety of matters from family law to housing. The “Access to Justice” (A2J) internship is recruiting interns that will work in the Bay Area Self-Help Centers from June to August. Interns will work closely with self-represented litigants providing assistance with court documents, legal information and referrals as needed, and translation for our monolingual litigants. Interns will also assist in and lead workshops. All assistance will be performed under the close supervision of attorneys and other court staff.

A2J interns will have the opportunity to learn about several areas of law, which may include family law (divorce, spousal support, domestic violence, parentage, child custody and visitation, child support), civil law (small claims, evictions, name & gender changes, civil harassment restraining orders, and elder abuse) and probate (guardianship).

Starting in May or mid-June, Access 2 Justice requires interns to serve three full days per week for at least 10 weeks. This will be a rigorous internship and we are looking forward to working with volunteers who are committed to public service.

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By providing one-on-one assistance, legal information, referrals, and assistance with forms completion, Access 2 Justice interns help litigants move forward with their legal matters. Access 2 Justice interns not only gain substantive training in family and civil law, but assist vulnerable communities who would be impacted by the law socioeconomically. 

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Access 2 Justice interns, depending on site location, assist litigants with the following legal issues:

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• Divorce

• Start Parentage

• Evictions 

• Small Claims

• Spousal Support

• Custody

• Restraining Orders

• Name Change

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California Rule of Court 10.960 provides that court-based self help centers are a core function.

Self-help centers serve as a single point of access for court users navigating the court system on their own.

What are Self-Help Centers?

Please click on the links to read reports published by the Judicial Council

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1. Guidelines for the Operation of Self-Help Centers in California Trial Courts

2. Statewide Action Plan for Serving Self-Represented Litigants

3. Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (AB 590) Fact Sheet

4. California Courts Self-Help Centers

5. Guidelines for the Operation of Self-Help Centers in California Trial Courts