Perry County Courts Announce Opening of New Legal Self-Help Center
Perry County Circuit Clerk Kim Kellerman announced the opening of a new online Perry County Legal Self-Help Center. The self-help center is a collaborative project between the courts and the Pinckneyville and Du Quoin Public Libraries. Start-up funding was provided by the Illinois Bar Association.
The online center was developed to provide accurate information on Illinois law to the growing number of people who come to court without an attorney because they cannot afford an attorney nor can they find a pro boon or legal aid attorney to represent them.
"We want everyone to have an attorney to represent them in court, if at all possible. But unfortunately some people are not able to afford an attorney and our local legal aid provider, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance, simply does not have enough staff or pro boon attorneys to meet the need for representation," said Kellerman. "Going to court on your own can be a daunting experience. In those situations where people must come to court on their own, the legal self-help center will provide them with useful information and pleadings for a number of simpler civil legal problems. For those people who are willing to take the time, Perry County Legal Self-Help Center will help them prepare for their court hearing."
People who do not have access to an internet-enabled computer can use the public access computers at the Pinckneyville and Du Quoin Public Libraries during regular business hours. For individuals who have internet access, the new Perry County Legal Self-Help Center can be found at http://perry.illinoislegalaid.org. The center is available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The information on the website is available in several formats including straight text articles, videos and both automated court pleadings and fill-in documents. There is also information on non-court matters such as Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Unemployment Compensation and other matters.
The Perry County Legal Self-Help Center features a welcoming video. The home page provides information on the hours and location of the Pinckneyville and Du Quoin Libraries. Also featured on the home page are six legal topics of most interest to self-represented litigants in Perry County. Other legal information can be found by clicking on the search bar at the bottom of the page.