In a significant move meant to support self-represented litigants, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, at a recent work session, approved a budget amendment and capital project outlay that will establish two “Legal Support Centers” in Guilford County.
According to the county’s description, “Legal Support Centers serve as resource hubs for self-represented litigants. These centers offer navigators who share information on how the court system works, provide access to and support with completing legal paperwork, and offer referrals to legal assistance and other agencies that can assist these litigants with their cases.”
One problem currently slowing down the court system is that many people improperly fill out court paperwork. This is meant to help.
The initiative, which has been spearheaded by Guilford County Commissioner Frankie Jones, Jr. and Chief District Court Judge Teresa Vincent, is meant to enhance access to legal resources for county residents.
The project was inspired by a visit from Guilford County officials to the Wake County Legal Support Center. The proposed Guilford County Legal Support Centers, which were approved by the Board of Commissioners at the board’s Thursday, Nov. 21 work session, will serve as key hubs for people who are attempting to navigate the court system without legal representation. These centers will offer “guidance on court process, assistance with completing legal documents, and referrals to legal aid and related community resources.”
In a January 2024 work session, the board heard the benefits of starting up Legal Support Centers in Guilford County, which were said to include guidance on legal questions – without giving legal advice – and allowing people representing themselves “to be better prepared and to reduce delays in hearings due to inadequate filings.”
There will be a Legal Support Center in Greensboro and one in High Point.
By addressing these needs, the goal of the centers is to streamline court proceedings, reduce delays caused by incomplete filings and help Guilford County residents engage more effectively and efficiently with the courts.
During a January 2024 work session, the Board of Commissioners first spoke about the role these centers might play in addressing the challenges faced by self-represented litigants. Now, at the end of the year, it’s clear they like the idea.
Some of the money for the project is coming from the Covid-era American Rescue Plan Act funds: There’s a $270,000 appropriation increase for operational expenses,.
Also $274,000 from Guilford County’s General Fund has been earmarked for capital improvements to support the centers’ offices in the two cities.
The motion approved by the commissioners last week authorizes county staff to take all necessary actions to bring the project to fruition. That includes finalizing contracts, transferring funds, and executing operational strategies.
Commissioner Jones and Judge Vincent have expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for the project – emphasizing, among other benefits, its potential to enhance equity in access to justice.
With community partner involvement and funding now secured, county residents can expect these centers to open in the fairly near future.
“Take the Advice of some Prudent Friend; for he who will be his own Counsellour, shall be sure to have a Fool for his Client.” (William De Britaine)
So Guilford County will aid fools in our county by establishing legal support centers, tax-funded places that will “serve as resource hubs for self-represented litigants.” Cool. The tax money will come from “Covid-era American Rescue Plan Act funds” and “Guilford County’s General Fund has been earmarked for capital improvements” which somehow seems like a misuse of funds, as this project appears to be misleading citizens in terms of giving sound legal advice, not a proper use of COVID funds, nor a correct use of capital improvement funds since the buildings shouldn’t be improved to only offer class space to teach self litigation.
COVID and General Fund money should be used for more widely beneficial needs to the people of the County, like say, improvements in the Animal Shelter situation. It seems they could use the $550,000 odd dollars more efficiently right now than classes to teach civilians how to “defend” themselves in court against professional lawyers and judges when charges or litigation are brought against them.
Oh, the web the County Commissioners weave.
More wasted tax dollars. What’s the real motive?
Appreciate the factual story. Did not sense any biased reporting. That is refreshing.
Lawyers will not be thrilled with this idea. It may cut into their income. A Legal Support Center is a good idea to help individuals navigate courthouse paperwork, especially for Small Claims Court cases. However, can Legal Aid of North Carolina be expanded to perform the functions of a Legal Support Center? Why create another resource hub at taxpayer expense when an existing hub can absorb the functions? Legal Aid locations already exist and the need for operational strategies may be minimal. One suggestion, please do not use the word “equity.” A person’s “starting point” is unknown and irrelevant.
Court appointed attorneys provide all this info & legal advice to their clients. We don’t need more wasteful tax-funded doonboggles.
The Legal Support Center would be for civil cases. Court appointed attorneys are for criminal cases.
right. I plead old-timer’s excuse.
Bingo. For all the money the commissioners spend this may be a benefit for all. Not everyone can enlist an attorney for fairly routine court filings. Seems like a fine idea to me
Ok,All well and good intentions,what about using monies to build or renovate places for affordable housing. We have legal aid reps,who can also help people to get a place to live! We need affordable housing.
Please define affordable housing. Affordable housing is a nebulous, vague term meant to persuade the public of a need. Is affordable housing to be built in the cities or in the county thereby destroying nature? What would the cost of affordable housing be based upon, the current average rents or house payments? There are apartments being built everywhere in the area. The developers were given the go ahead to build. Are these apartments not affordable? How many of these apartments are government subsidized? If people needing affordable housing are employed, building affordable housing away from their employment would require transportation. If affordable housing is an issue, the logical conclusion would be that affordable transportation would be an issue too. Like everything the government gets involved in, it results in one big screwup at taxpayers’ expense. Return to the fundamental issue, define affordable housing and by extension, identify developers who want to get involved in low rent housing?
TERMLIMITS
How dare you speak against the System…speak against the Establishment…speak of independent thinking in terms of encouraging people to question the The All Knowing Grand Board of Commissar…I mean Commissioners…you speak of making Them Servants of the People, not the People Servants of Them.
learn to be a ‘plaintiff’ @ my plaintiff school. tired of low pay ambulance chasing & ‘slip n fall’ ? learn how to find n fleece ‘cash cows’, the essentials of ‘victimhood’ etc. enroll now as seats are limited !
When Attorneys like Donald Vaughan tell Guilford County Civil Litigants to give him $1M and he will see what he can do, Heather McGill-Guilford County Justice Center in Greensboro telling Civil Litigants they don’t care, and Legal Aid of NC claiming they are not funded to help. Guilford County NC Civil Litigants need access to Justice. When will the Legal Support Centers open? How can We sign up ?
Ms. Goodwin, it appears the Legal Support Center will be for help with filling out paperwork and how and where to file the paperwork. The Center will not be designed to give legal advice. That would be practicing law without a license. Assistance with completing the paperwork is a great help.
Okay so, $270K from Covid-era…funds to increase operational expenses, and $274K from Guilford County’s General Fund to improve buildings Guilford County already owns, the 2 Legal Support Centers will not be designed to give legal advise or assistance to Justice as many Civil Litigants need; because that would be giving legal advice. It’s not a paperwork problem, it’s a problem getting access to Justice because many Civil Litigates do not have the money to pay.
So, Rhino Times, I pose a question to Guilford County Commissioner Frankie Jones, Jr. and Chief District Court Judge Teresa Vincent,
“Commissioner Jones and Judge Vincent have expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for the project – emphasizing, among other benefits, its potential to enhance equity in access to justice.”
Where is access to Justice for Guilford County, NC Civil Litigates that do not have the funding to pay?
What paperwork must be completed to Ask You Chief District Court Judge Teresa Vincent, and All Guilford County Commissions to Approve; because I have already sent evidence to them; for a Judicial Review/Investigation of [a Guilford County court case].
Commissioner Jones, Judge Vincent, Rhino Times,
Open the Doors to Justice by Listening to Eye opening, Ears Understanding, Reading Evidence that was hidden from All, that will prove Not all NC Law licensed individuals held up their oath of honesty in [the Guilford County court case]. TRUTH will reveal This Case is Illegal from the start.
I can’t do the paperwork, but I sure need Justice so I can get Home and get back to work helping improve residential living in Guilford County and More.
The NC State Bar owns Us a lot of Money Guilford County Commissioners and Guilford County NC Superior & District Courts for covering up [this case].
20ish years have been stolen from my personal and professional life just because I am Black/Afro American.
I do not like racism and I hope You do not like racism too.
Justice means I need legal assistance with filling out paperwork to ask Judge Teresa Vincent to Order the Investigation of Misuse of Government Property for personal gain and racial hatred [in the court case.]
What paperwork and Where is Media Help?
TRUTH hold the liars accountable for their bad acts.
Ms.wesleyg@gmail.com