New resource center will help people representing themselves in court

A new Self-Help Resource Center at the law library in the Fairfax County courthouse will provide assistance to people who represent themselves in court.

The center will be open to the public and will offer resources to anyone interacting with the judicial system as litigants, prospective litigants, witnesses, or who simply have business with the court.

The Fairfax Bar Association established the resource center in partnership with the Fairfax County Courts, Fairfax Law Library, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, the Fairfax Public Defender, Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Supervisor Rodney Lusk (Franconia), and others.

“Access to justice for self-represented litigants is a significant issue facing the legal community today,” the bar association states. “A significant portion of individuals either choose to represent themselves or they do not have the means to hire an attorney to represent them.”

Self-represented litigants often face cultural and language barriers, procedural hurdles, and difficulty understanding legal terminology. The resources at the center will help them figure out what forms they need to file, when to appear in court, and what to say in court.

The Virginia Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission adopted a resolution in December 2021 approving the creation of self-help centers in courthouses to increase public trust in the courts and to provide unrepresented litigants with information necessary to participate meaningfully in proceedings and protect their interests.

The kick-off event for the Fairfax Courthouse Self Help Resource Center will be held on Oct. 5, 4:30 p.m., at the law library. To attend, send an RSVP to [email protected].