Rule 15.27 - SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT ASSISTANCE CENTERThe Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center of the Circuit Court for the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County, Illinois is established by Administrative Order. The Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center shall be governed by Administrative Order and this Article.
(a)PURPOSE OF SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT ASSISTANCE CENTERThe 18th Judicial Circuit Court Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center is designed to offer assistance to self-represented litigants by providing information on pro bono and low-cost legal services, information on legal referral services and information about mediation services, forms, and instructions on completing approved Statewide forms, information on court procedures and help with completing limited documents in domestic relations cases.
(b)LIMITATIONS OF SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT ASSISTANCE CENTERThe Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center cannot provide legal advice. No attorneyclient relationship exists at the time a volunteer attorney assists a self-represented litigant at the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center. If an individual chooses to be selfrepresented, that individual will have the same responsibility as an attorney to follow Local Court Rules and procedures. Staff and volunteers of the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center are not responsible for the outcome of the litigant's case and the services provided by the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center is not a substitute for legal advice. Individuals represented by counsel shall not be permitted to utilize the services of the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center.
(c)PROCEDURES(1) The Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center has a virtual help desk that can be accessed through a link provided on the DuPage County Circuit Court website and Circuit Court Clerk website. The Chief Judge may assign a physical location for the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center at his or her discretion.(2) The Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center shall operate at dates and times as authorized by the Chief Judge and subject to the criteria established by the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division (or another Presiding Judge as assigned by the Chief Judge).(3) The Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center will be staffed by volunteer attorneys.(4) The Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations division (or another Presiding Judge as assigned by the Chief Judge) shall appoint a secretary within their division to maintain the list of attorney volunteers. The Presiding Judge may request any appropriate entity, including a professional association of attorneys to serve as the "Host" to the virtual Self Represented Litigant Assistance Center, including by providing a Zoom license (or license to a similar virtual platform), responding to technical issues with the Zoom platform, scheduling the links to the virtual meetings and soliciting volunteers to staff the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center(5) Before receiving assistance from the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center volunteer attorney, each self-represented litigant will execute any necessary documents.(6) All Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center attorney volunteers must complete a training approved by the Chief Judge prior to being eligible to volunteer or provide assistance at the Self-Represented Litigant Assistance Center.Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Dupage Cnty. 15.27