If you don’t have an attorney, remember that Court Clerks cannot assist with legal advice

By preventing clerks from dispensing legal advice to unrepresented parties, courts protect the impartial administration of justice and lessen the burden on the court system. However, the problem remains that many people who need legal advice cannot not get it unless they have the resources to at least consult with a lawyer.

Many people who for one reason or another end up in Court do not have the financial means to consult with, or hire, a lawyer. Their first point of contact with the Court is in many cases the Clerk’s office of the Court. While many court clerks want to help, they are limited in what they are authorized to do and say. Pro se litigants are not alone in this situation. Even experienced attorneys often wish they could ask Clerks about legal issues or procedures to resolve a legal dispute. But lawyers know that they should not ask such questions.

In this article, Alabama lawyer Ayn Traylor-Sadberry provides a brief overview of the issues facing pro se litigants and court clerks.

You might have seen in movies where a person being sued runs to the courthouse, is sent from one desk to another, and finally one merciful court clerk with large, horn-rimmed librarian glasses, reveals the legal strategy that ends the legal quagmire. But that happens only in the movies.  In real life, court clerks are not allowed to dispense legal advice. That can make life more difficult for any pro se litigant, and burdens the legal system as a whole.

That clerks cannot provide legal advice in Alabama is prominently stated in documents and on websites. See, for example, “By law, the appellate and library staff cannot provide legal advice,” (Website of Alabama Appellate Courts, http://judicial.alabama.gov/appellate/appellatefaqs; “The court clerk cannot give any legal advice … You should ask a lawyer to explain your legal rights to you. The court clerk cannot give you legal advice. …” (Information Sheet of Legal Services Alabama, https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/files/A2447EEE-F644-D86C-0EED-38CCDA102137/attachments/1086BAD1-E720-47AE-B8EA-5CBC4EC9F23C/smallclaimscourtprint-2015-09-01.pdf).

A 2009 Report by the Alabama Access to Justice Commission (Christina Llop, Esq.) notes that “Judges and clerks find consistent problems with self- represented parties expecting them to provide legal advice, failing to understand rules of procedure and evidence, failing to bring necessary witnesses and evidence to court, and refusing to accept the court’s rulings. In fact, Judge Jack Lowther expressed the same frustration heard from judicial officers around the nation: having to rule against a self-represented litigant not because they did not have a strong and possibly winning case, but because they did not know how to prove their case or their damages. The result, apart from the significant potential for failure to find redress for legitimate legal claims, is wasted judicial and staffing resources.” (Report, page 10).

In 2002, the Judicial Council of California addressed this issue with a form called “MC-800, Court Clerk’s Office: Signage” that allows court clerks to offer specified assistance to court users. See “May I help you? Legal Advice vs. Legal Information” (2003 by Judicial Council of California/Administrative Office of the Courts, available online at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/mayihelpyou.pdf; form at https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/mc800.pdf)
The brochure issued by the California Judicial Council explains “that The Code of Ethics for the Court Employees of California requires you to ‘furnish accurate information as requested in a competent, cooperative, and timely manner’ but to avoid ‘giving legal advice.’ You may already know that you are not supposed to give ‘legal advice’ to court users. … As a result, when people ask questions where the line between legal information and legal advice is blurry, you may avoid giving appropriate information about court procedures because you don’t want to violate the Code of Ethics. Meanwhile, court users don’t get the information they need and may become frustrated; more significantly, if they don’t follow the right procedure, they may be denied access to the courts. In an effort to address these concerns, the Judicial Council of California recently approved form MC800, Court Clerks Office: Signage, for display in court clerks’ offices throughout the state. The form is designed for posting at the clerk’s counter or public window at each court location so that court users can read and understand the guidelines that you are required to follow.” (Brochure, page 1).

Let us review the California approach, signage and brochure in more detail.

Code of Ethics

The nationwide rise in self-represented litigants has increased the need for assistance that people seek from the court staff. This is where the Code of Ethics comes into play. This code presents clear guidelines on how the Court Employees should “furnish accurate information as requested in a competent, cooperative, and timely manner”. However, they must avoid “giving legal advice” on any matter that does not concern them.

People often get angry when they feel the response given to them is automated. What they don’t know is that the court employees have to follow strict rules regarding legal advice and legal information. Both terms differ vastly and therefore, the court employees have to think before they speak or else they might risk violating the Code of Ethics.
From a legal standpoint, legal advice concerns areas on how the person can further pursue the actions against litigation. It specifically applies to the law. The court employees here cannot tell the litigant whether they “should” file a case or not. On the other hand, they can explain the legal system and the law in general terms.

Here’s an example for you:

Procedural Definition

You are filing a lawsuit regarding an encroachment on your business land. You visit the court to get some legal information and seek assistance from an attorney.

Legal Information

You tell the court clerk the type of case you are pursuing and he tells you about the different reasons why the other party might want to adjourn the application.

Legal Advice

You are advised on what type of application you should submit and which court to visit. The attorney advises you on asking for adjournment at the next court hearing because…

A List of Things the Court Staff Can and Cannot Do For You
Following are seven areas where a court staff can and cannot assist you:

Can Assist In…
1. Answer Questions
The court staff can answer any questions regarding the case you are pursuing. Bear in mind that the information given will cover the surface of the problem, and it will not give you insight on how you should proceed rather the ways you can proceed.
2. Provide Referrals
The court staff can provide you with referrals for a local lawyer’s service, family law facilitator program, legal services program, and other such services where you can get access to legal information. Don’t expect to get information on the spot about any litigation.
3. Direction on Rules and Regulations
The court staff can provide you with information on court procedures, rules, and practices. This will help you to take the right steps when you are thinking about filing a lawsuit.
4. Provide Court Schedules
As a first-time court user, you might not know which person and department to visit. Here, the court staff can give you information regarding various court schedules and how you can get the case filed. This will help you make timely appearances and avoid missing deadlines.
5. Review the Case File
Say your case file contains information that is difficult for you to understand. Here, the court staff can help you understand what the information means and where you can seek further help.
6. Provide Forms and Applications
The court staff can help you with the right applications and forms, as well as directions on where to file them.
7. Guidance on Deadlines
Every lawsuit has its deadline, and the court staff can assist you in meeting them. They will answer your questions on how early you need to submit your forms and may also provide you information on how soon your application will be approved.

Now that you know what information you can get at the court from the court clerk, you can ask the right questions and not get twisted in circles, visiting one department from another. Keep in mind, you might not always get the information you are seeking, so be patient and ask for further directions rather than getting frustrated and breaking any rules and regulations.

Ms. Traylor-Sadberry concludes that while the California signage and brochure clarifies the clerks’ duties, it does not help pro se litigants in need of legal help. Also, the California approach does not lessen the burden on the court system, since it is unlikely that pro se litigants will read the brochure “May I help you?” before asking a court clerk.
It seems this issue will continue. Legal self-help centers (as suggested in the Report by the Alabama Access to Justice Commission, cited above), flexible payment plans offered by attorneys, and allowing paralegal professionals to provide limited representation (as proposed in some other States) may provide some relief.

About Ayn Traylor-Sadberry

Ayn Traylor-Sadberry is a domestic relations & family law attorney in Birmingham, Alabama.

References
 
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