Public Libraries, Legal Public Libraries, Legal Information, and Access to Information, and Access to

Justice: Part 2Justice: Part 2

Legal Resources for the Public Legal Resources for the Public Librarian: How to Survive Librarian: How to Survive Legal Questions on the Legal Questions on the

Reference DeskReference Desk

Laura Mancini, MLISLaura Mancini, MLIS

Director- Library Services for Oakland Director- Library Services for Oakland CountyCounty

Administrator of the Adams Pratt Administrator of the Adams Pratt Oakland County Law LibraryOakland County Law Library

Only Only publicpublic law library in southeast law library in southeast MichiganMichigan

Serves 40,000 people a year, over Serves 40,000 people a year, over 70% of them are members of the 70% of them are members of the general publicgeneral public

General SourcesGeneral Sources

FreeFree Electronic Resources Electronic Resources

Legal Information InstituteLegal Information Institute http://www.law.cornell.edu

Features links to constitutions, Features links to constitutions, statutes, regulations, court opinions by statutes, regulations, court opinions by jurisdictionjurisdiction

FindlawFindlawhttp://www.findlaw.com

Includes sections for the layperson, Includes sections for the layperson, legal topics and laws for all 50 stateslegal topics and laws for all 50 states

Free Electronic ResourcesFree Electronic Resources

Michigan Courts Self Help CenterMichigan Courts Self Help Center

http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/selfhelp/selfhelphome.htm

Includes information on court Includes information on court procedures and official court forms procedures and official court forms (which are only SOME of the forms (which are only SOME of the forms used in Michigan Courts)used in Michigan Courts)

Free Electronic ResourcesFree Electronic Resources

State Bar of Michigan Online Legal State Bar of Michigan Online Legal Help CenterHelp Center

http://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/libraries/selfhelp.cfm

Contains links on sources for Contains links on sources for different topics in the law, finding a different topics in the law, finding a lawyer, and researching Michigan lawlawyer, and researching Michigan law

Free Electronic SourcesFree Electronic Sources

Michigan Electronic Library (MeL)Michigan Electronic Library (MeL)http://mel.org/legal

New Legal Gateway. Information on New Legal Gateway. Information on courts, administrative decisions, courts, administrative decisions, finding legal assistance, legal finding legal assistance, legal resources, federal and multistate resources, federal and multistate legal resources, Michigan legal legal resources, Michigan legal resources, statutes and regulationsresources, statutes and regulations

Cheap Legal Print Sources for the Cheap Legal Print Sources for the LaypersonLayperson

Nolo PressNolo Press Books available on a wide variety of topics Books available on a wide variety of topics

including many of the subjects where including many of the subjects where individuals most commonly represent individuals most commonly represent themselvesthemselves

Written by attorneys or experts in the subject Written by attorneys or experts in the subject mattermatter

Average Nolo Book retails for about $30.00Average Nolo Book retails for about $30.00 http://www.nolo.com Caution patrons about Formbooks. Will the Caution patrons about Formbooks. Will the

forms be accepted in Michigan Courts?forms be accepted in Michigan Courts?

Cheap Print Sources for the Cheap Print Sources for the LaypersonLayperson

Sphinx PublishingSphinx Publishing Books available on a wide variety of topics Books available on a wide variety of topics

including most subjects where individuals including most subjects where individuals commonly represent themselvescommonly represent themselves

Written by attorneys or experts in the Written by attorneys or experts in the subject mattersubject matter

Average Sphinx Book retails for about Average Sphinx Book retails for about $25.00$25.00

http://www.SphinxLegal.com Caution patrons about Formbooks. Will Caution patrons about Formbooks. Will

the forms be accepted in Michigan Courts?the forms be accepted in Michigan Courts?

Laura’s Favorite Print Sources for Laura’s Favorite Print Sources for the Laypersonthe Layperson

Unmarried Parents RightsUnmarried Parents Rights (Sphinx) (Sphinx) Represent Yourself in CourtRepresent Yourself in Court (Nolo) (Nolo) How to Make a Michigan WillHow to Make a Michigan Will (Sphinx) (Sphinx) Every Tenant’s Legal GuideEvery Tenant’s Legal Guide (Nolo) (Nolo) Beat Your TicketBeat Your Ticket (Nolo) (Nolo)

State of Michigan Free GuidesState of Michigan Free Guides

Most are available for download at Most are available for download at http://www.legislature.mi.gov under under the publications menuthe publications menu

Print copies to distribute to your Print copies to distribute to your patrons are also available from your patrons are also available from your State Representative- Call them!State Representative- Call them!

Laura’s Picks: Free State of Laura’s Picks: Free State of Michigan GuidesMichigan Guides

Friend of the CourtFriend of the Court Changes and Choices: Legal Rights Changes and Choices: Legal Rights

of Senior Adultsof Senior Adults Tenants and Landlords a Practical Tenants and Landlords a Practical

GuideGuide

All are Michigan specific in their All are Michigan specific in their coveragecoverage

Useful and Useful and Inexpensive Inexpensive

Sources for Popular Sources for Popular Self-Help TopicsSelf-Help Topics

Family LawFamily Law

The Michigan Divorce Book: A Guide The Michigan Divorce Book: A Guide to Doing an Uncontested Divorce to Doing an Uncontested Divorce Without an AttorneyWithout an Attorney by Michael Maran by Michael Maran

Unmarried Parents’ Rights (and Unmarried Parents’ Rights (and Responsibilities)Responsibilities) by Jacqueline D. by Jacqueline D. StanleyStanley

Michigan Parenting Time GuidelineMichigan Parenting Time Guideline

http://www.courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/publications/manuals/focb/pt_gdlns.pdf

Family Law ContinuedFamily Law Continued

Michigan’s Friend of the Court: Michigan’s Friend of the Court: Support, Custody, and Visitation for Support, Custody, and Visitation for Michigan ChildrenMichigan Children

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/friendofcourt.pdf

Grandparents’ Rights: Your Legal Grandparents’ Rights: Your Legal Guide to Protecting Your Relationship Guide to Protecting Your Relationship with Your Childrenwith Your Children by Traci Truly by Traci Truly

Landlord TenantLandlord Tenant

Practical Guide for Landlord and Practical Guide for Landlord and TenantsTenants

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf

Tenants and Landlords: A Practical Tenants and Landlords: A Practical GuideGuidehttp://www.michiganlegalaid.org/library_client/housing/tenants__landlords__a_practical_guide/html_view

Landlord Tenant ContinuedLandlord Tenant Continued

Every Landlord’s Guide to Finding Every Landlord’s Guide to Finding Great TenantsGreat Tenants by Janet Portman by Janet Portman

Renter’s Rights: The BasicsRenter’s Rights: The Basics by Janet by Janet Portman and Marcia StewartPortman and Marcia Stewart

Every Tenant’s Legal GuideEvery Tenant’s Legal Guide by Janet by Janet Portman and Marcia StewartPortman and Marcia Stewart

Bankruptcy Bankruptcy

US Bankruptcy Court for Western US Bankruptcy Court for Western District of MichiganDistrict of Michiganhttp://www.miwb.uscourts.gov

Contains information on how to file Contains information on how to file for bankruptcy without an attorneyfor bankruptcy without an attorney

Glossary of Bankruptcy TermsGlossary of Bankruptcy Termshttp://www.bankruptcydata.com/glossary.htm

Bankruptcy ContinuedBankruptcy Continued

US Courts: Bankruptcy Resources US Courts: Bankruptcy Resources and Formsand Forms

http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/BankruptcyResources.aspxThe New Bankruptcy: Will it Work for The New Bankruptcy: Will it Work for You?You? By Stephen R. Elias By Stephen R. Elias

How to File Chapter 7 BankruptcyHow to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy by by Stephen Elias, Albin Renauer & Robin Stephen Elias, Albin Renauer & Robin LeonardLeonard

Debtor/Creditor LawDebtor/Creditor Law

Michigan Attorney GeneralMichigan Attorney Generalhttp://www.michigan.gov/ag/

Information on Consumer FraudInformation on Consumer Fraud Consumer Protection Resources Consumer Protection Resources

GuidesGuides

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/ConsumerProtection.pdf

Debtor/Creditor Law ContinuedDebtor/Creditor Law Continued

The Complete Credit Repair KitThe Complete Credit Repair Kit by by Brette McWhorter SemberBrette McWhorter Sember

Solve Your Money Troubles: Debt, Solve Your Money Troubles: Debt, Credit and BankruptcyCredit and Bankruptcy by Robin by Robin Leonard and Margaret ReiterLeonard and Margaret Reiter

Getting Paid: How to Collect from Getting Paid: How to Collect from Bankrupt DebtorsBankrupt Debtors by Stephen R. Elias by Stephen R. Elias

Elder LawElder Law

MedicareMedicarehttp://www.medicare.gov/

Elder Law of MichiganElder Law of Michiganhttp://www.elderslaw.org

ABA Commission on Law and AgingABA Commission on Law and Aginghttp://www.abanet.org

Elder Law ContinuedElder Law Continued

Changes and Choices: Legal Rights Changes and Choices: Legal Rights of Senior Adultsof Senior Adults

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/Publications/ChangesAndChoices.pdf

Long-Term Care: How to Plan & Pay Long-Term Care: How to Plan & Pay for Itfor It by Joseph Matthews by Joseph Matthews

ImmigrationImmigration

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serviceshttp://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Law, Exam & InterviewLaw, Exam & Interview by Ilona Bray by Ilona Bray

U.S. Immigration Made EasyU.S. Immigration Made Easy by Ilona Bray by Ilona Bray How to Get a Green CardHow to Get a Green Card by Ilona Bray by Ilona Bray

and Loida Nicolas Lewis, updated by Ruby and Loida Nicolas Lewis, updated by Ruby LiebermanLieberman

Immigration ContinuedImmigration Continued

Fiancé and Marriage VisasFiancé and Marriage Visas: : A A Couple’s Guide to U.S. ImmigrationCouple’s Guide to U.S. Immigration by Ilona Bray, updated by Ruby by Ilona Bray, updated by Ruby LiebermanLieberman

ForeclosureForeclosure

Michigan Attorney GeneralMichigan Attorney General

http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34391-180413--,00.html

Federal Trade Commission: Federal Trade Commission: ForeclosureForeclosure

http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea04.shtmconsumer/homes/rea04.shtm

Foreclosure ContinuedForeclosure Continued

Michigan State Housing AuthorityMichigan State Housing Authority

http://www.michigan.gov/mshda/http://www.michigan.gov/mshda/0,1607,7-141-45866_47905-0,1607,7-141-45866_47905-186987--,00.html186987--,00.html

HUD Avoiding Home ForeclosureHUD Avoiding Home Foreclosure

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/hcc/fc/

Stop Foreclosure Now Stop Foreclosure Now by Lloyd Segalby Lloyd Segal

Social SecuritySocial Security

Social Security OnlineSocial Security Online

http://ssa.govhttp://ssa.gov AARP Social Security CenterAARP Social Security Center

http://www.aarp.org/work/social-http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/security/

Win Your Social Security Disability Win Your Social Security Disability CaseCase

By Benjamin H. BerkleyBy Benjamin H. Berkley

Social Security ContinuedSocial Security Continued

Social Security, Medicare and Social Security, Medicare and Government Pensions: Get the Most Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Out of Your Retirement & Medical BenefitsBenefits By Joseph L. Matthews with By Joseph L. Matthews with Dorothy Matthews BermanDorothy Matthews Berman

The Social Security Benefits The Social Security Benefits HandbookHandbook by A. Tomkiel III by A. Tomkiel III

VeteransVeterans

Veterans/Benefits & ServicesVeterans/Benefits & Services

http://www.va.govhttp://www.va.gov National Veterans Legal Services National Veterans Legal Services

ProgramProgram

http://www.nvlsp.orghttp://www.nvlsp.org Project SaluteProject Salute

http://www.law.udmercy.edu/http://www.law.udmercy.edu/academics/vetclinic/nat_tour.phpacademics/vetclinic/nat_tour.php

Veterans ContinuedVeterans Continued

Veterans Benefits and Services: Veterans Benefits and Services: Federal, State, and Local Programs for Federal, State, and Local Programs for Veterans Past, Present, and FutureVeterans Past, Present, and Future

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/Publications/Veterans.pdfdocuments/Publications/Veterans.pdf

For Service to Your Country: The For Service to Your Country: The Insider’s Guide to Veterans’ BenefitsInsider’s Guide to Veterans’ Benefits by Peter S. Gayton and Marian by Peter S. Gayton and Marian Edelman BordenEdelman Borden

Wills and Estate PlanningWills and Estate Planning

Planning for your Peace of Mind: A Planning for your Peace of Mind: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Medical and Do-It-Yourself Guide to Medical and Legal DecisionsLegal Decisions

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/documents/publications/peaceofmind.pdfpeaceofmind.pdf

How to Make a Michigan WillHow to Make a Michigan Will by by Edward A. Haman and Mark WardaEdward A. Haman and Mark Warda

Wills and Estate Planning Wills and Estate Planning ContinuedContinued

The Michigan Estate Planning BookThe Michigan Estate Planning Book by Michael Maranby Michael Maran

Guiding Those Left Behind in Guiding Those Left Behind in MichiganMichigan by Amelia E. Pohl and by Amelia E. Pohl and Steven T. LettSteven T. Lett

A Will is Not Enough in MichiganA Will is Not Enough in Michigan by by Amelia E. Pohl and Todd SchmitzAmelia E. Pohl and Todd Schmitz

Other Useful ItemsOther Useful Items

Filing Appeals and Original Actions: An Filing Appeals and Original Actions: An Appellant’s Guide to Navigating the Appellant’s Guide to Navigating the Appellate ProcessAppellate Process

http://coa.courts.mi.gov/pdf/at-http://coa.courts.mi.gov/pdf/at-handbook.pdfhandbook.pdf

Setting Aside a Conviction Setting Aside a Conviction (Expungement)(Expungement)

http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/selfhelp/intro/criminal/setaside_help.htmselfhelp/intro/criminal/setaside_help.htm

Other Useful Items ContinuedOther Useful Items Continued

Driver License RestorationDriver License Restoration

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1627_8665_9074-0,1607,7-127-1627_8665_9074-29754--,00.html29754--,00.html

Emancipation of MinorsEmancipation of Minors

http://courts.co.calhoun.mi.us/http://courts.co.calhoun.mi.us/book002.htmbook002.htm

DisclaimerDisclaimer

These sources cannot be considered These sources cannot be considered authoritative legal sourcesauthoritative legal sources

They serve as guides to give your They serve as guides to give your patrons background information on a patrons background information on a particular topic and can help to direct particular topic and can help to direct them to their next steps in the legal them to their next steps in the legal processprocess

What to Do When You Can’t Give What to Do When You Can’t Give Legal AdviceLegal Advice

Try to give some information that Try to give some information that can help the patron progress to next can help the patron progress to next step in solving their problemstep in solving their problem

Patron will feel like their time has not Patron will feel like their time has not been wasted in visiting the librarybeen wasted in visiting the library

Referrals for Legal Assistance and Referrals for Legal Assistance and AdviceAdvice

Lawyer Referral Services (Often Lawyer Referral Services (Often Includes Free Consultations)Includes Free Consultations)

Legal Services Corporations (Legal Legal Services Corporations (Legal Aid)Aid)

Law School Clinics (Host One at Your Law School Clinics (Host One at Your Library!)Library!)

Community Dispute Resolution Community Dispute Resolution Program CentersProgram Centers

Referrals for Legal Assistance and Referrals for Legal Assistance and Advice ContinuedAdvice Continued

Non-Profit or Community Based Non-Profit or Community Based Advocacy and Legal ProjectsAdvocacy and Legal Projects

AAA-Senior Citizens Legal Service AAA-Senior Citizens Legal Service ProvidersProviders

Don’t Forget Law Libraries! Don’t Forget Law Libraries!

Access to JusticeAccess to Justice

Current State of Access to JusticeCurrent State of Access to Justice

Gaps and duplication in the availability Gaps and duplication in the availability of self-help resourcesof self-help resources

Electronic sources that do exist are Electronic sources that do exist are not interactivenot interactive

Lack of uniformity in materials, forms, Lack of uniformity in materials, forms, procedures among jurisdictionsprocedures among jurisdictions

Existing court forms not easily Existing court forms not easily understood (Motion Form Example understood (Motion Form Example Here)Here)

Current State Access to Justice Current State Access to Justice ContinuedContinued

Wide disparity in treatment of self-Wide disparity in treatment of self-represented from jurisdiction to represented from jurisdiction to jurisdictionjurisdiction

Quote from New Hampshire Chief Quote from New Hampshire Chief Justice BroderickJustice Broderick

““How would you feel if we had a How would you feel if we had a system in this country where, if you system in this country where, if you went to an emergency room with went to an emergency room with severe abdominal pain, without severe abdominal pain, without insurance, you were told to use insurance, you were told to use illustrated textbooks on the illustrated textbooks on the bookshelves to diagnose your problem bookshelves to diagnose your problem and the sterilized instruments in the and the sterilized instruments in the trays to perform your own surgery?”trays to perform your own surgery?”

Quote from New Hampshire Chief Quote from New Hampshire Chief Justice Broderick ContinuedJustice Broderick Continued

““All of us would say that system is All of us would say that system is immoral. Somehow, when mothers or immoral. Somehow, when mothers or fathers are told to fight for custody of fathers are told to fight for custody of their child or for their health care, their child or for their health care, their job, their apartment or their their job, their apartment or their home without a lawyer, too many home without a lawyer, too many think it’s perfectly alright for them to think it’s perfectly alright for them to perform their own surgery in our perform their own surgery in our courthouses with burdens, rules and courthouses with burdens, rules and

Quote from New Hampshire Chief Quote from New Hampshire Chief Justice Broderick ContinuedJustice Broderick Continued

““process they do not understand. process they do not understand. Well, it isn’t all right and we Well, it isn’t all right and we shouldn’t tolerate it in the greatest shouldn’t tolerate it in the greatest justice system in the world. Justice justice system in the world. Justice isn’t just a nice idea, it’s the glue isn’t just a nice idea, it’s the glue that keeps our democracy together.”that keeps our democracy together.”

The Future of Access to Justice in The Future of Access to Justice in MichiganMichigan

Solutions on Self-Help (SOS) Task Solutions on Self-Help (SOS) Task ForceForce

formed by Chief Justice Marilyn Kellyformed by Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly Comprised of representatives from the Comprised of representatives from the

Courts, Bar Associations, Legal Aid Courts, Bar Associations, Legal Aid Organizations, Law Schools, and Organizations, Law Schools, and LibrariesLibraries

Project funded by the Michigan State Project funded by the Michigan State Bar FoundationBar Foundation

Michigan SOS Taskforce GoalsMichigan SOS Taskforce Goals

User-friendly, high-quality, statewide User-friendly, high-quality, statewide centralized self-help resourcescentralized self-help resources

An interactive web site that An interactive web site that populates automated populates automated documents/forms with a powerful documents/forms with a powerful search engine, user tutorials, search engine, user tutorials, multimedia and live chat assistancemultimedia and live chat assistance

Spanish and other language contentSpanish and other language content

Michigan SOS Taskforce Goals Michigan SOS Taskforce Goals ContinuedContinued

Develop a triage protocol for Develop a triage protocol for referring persons who really should referring persons who really should get a lawyer for their matterget a lawyer for their matter

Have pilot self-help centers that use Have pilot self-help centers that use the SOS website the SOS website

Uniform court acceptance of SCAO Uniform court acceptance of SCAO forms, improved understandability of forms, improved understandability of forms and more consistent forms and more consistent procedures among courtsprocedures among courts

Michigan SOS Taskforce Project Michigan SOS Taskforce Project ModelModel

Illinoislegalaid.orgIllinoislegalaid.org

http://www.illinoislegalaid.orghttp://www.illinoislegalaid.org Contains legal resources written for Contains legal resources written for

low-literacy userslow-literacy users Legal information in multiple areas of Legal information in multiple areas of

lawlaw Easy-to-use interactive formsEasy-to-use interactive forms Foreign Language materialsForeign Language materials

Illinoislegalaid.orgIllinoislegalaid.org

Self-Help instructions for common Self-Help instructions for common legal problemslegal problems

Multimedia training and educationMultimedia training and education Referrals to free or other legal Referrals to free or other legal

servicesservices Live chat assistanceLive chat assistance

Illinoislegalaid.org ContinuedIllinoislegalaid.org Continued

Staffed by self-help centers including Staffed by self-help centers including libraries!!!libraries!!!

Michigan SOS TaskforceMichigan SOS Taskforce

Pilot Program to begin in 2011Pilot Program to begin in 2011 Details forthcomingDetails forthcoming

Final Thoughts on Serving the Self-Final Thoughts on Serving the Self-RepresentedRepresented

Remember you can do a lot with the Remember you can do a lot with the right toolsright tools

Recognize and accept the limits of Recognize and accept the limits of your situationyour situation

You are not the patron’s only You are not the patron’s only resource and there are many entities resource and there are many entities that are prepared to provide that are prepared to provide assistance to themassistance to them

Final Thoughts on Serving the Self- Final Thoughts on Serving the Self- RepresentedRepresented

Most important of all, Michigan has a Most important of all, Michigan has a wonderful network of libraries wonderful network of libraries working in this areaworking in this area

Don’t hesitate to call upon this Don’t hesitate to call upon this network and develop a support network and develop a support system so that you can best provide system so that you can best provide the best service you can to your the best service you can to your patron!patron!