There are over 4 million people living in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara—the counties served by the Access 2 Justice program. The majority of the individuals who utilize Self-Help Services in the Bay Area do so because they cannot afford legal representation and need assistance navigating complicated court proceedings.
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.
Access 2 Justice interns, depending on site location, assist litigants with the following legal issues:
Divorce
Start Parentage
Evictions
Small Claims
Spousal Support
Custody
Restraining Orders
Name Change
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.