Illinois contingent attends SRLN Conference

By Jill Roberts, Deputy Director, Access to Justice Division, AOIC

Twenty-three members of the Illinois court and legal community attended the Self-Represented Litigation Network (SRLN) conference in Salt Lake City, Utah from September 18-21, 2024. This included five staff of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), representatives from five judicial circuits, the Chicago Bar Foundation, Illinois Bar Foundation, and more.

SRLN is a network of justice system professionals aiming for 100% access to civil justice. The network supports professionals focused on the question of how best to reform ALL aspects of the legal system (courts, legal aid, the bar, and non-legal partners) so that SRLs experience the courts (and indeed the legal system) as a consumer-oriented environment guided by the principles of equal protection and due process. The conference offered opportunities to network and learn from other states about programs and solutions they are implementing, and allowed us to share the incredible work being done in Illinois.

Stacey Weiler from the Illinois Bar Foundation presented "Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Update from the Field" which highlighted the Illinois JusticeCorps program. Avani Patel, AOIC presented on "Self-Help Platforms: Empowering People and Providing Baseline Access to Justice," which highlighted Illinois Court Help. There was a session about the Illinois partnership with Suffolk Law Lab that highlighted a guided interview integrated with e-filing. Jill Roberts, AOIC and Roya Samarghandi, Chicago Bar Foundation presented "Building Connected Ecosystems of Resources for Self-Represented Litigants," which highlighted the Safe Harbor Policy and some programs that utilize it, like the Court Library Access Centers. Kathryn Hensley and Sarah Song, AOIC presented "Listening to Their Voices: Getting Community-Based Feedback for Courts" highlighting forms user testing and community trust listening session projects.

Brenda Sprague, Executive Assistant to the Chief First Circuit Judge said "I believe [Illinois] is so advanced in self-help because of the work [the ATJ Commission] has done! Some state offices are just getting started […] it's clear to understand how much the Illinois Access to Justice team has accomplished!" The ATJ Commission staff also saw how far we have to go, and we return to Illinois with renewed energy and ideas for improving access to justice in Illinois. One plenary speaker said "no matter what you do, it will not be enough AND it will be vitally important." The ATJ Commission staff will keep this charge in mind as we continue to set strategic goals and priorities in order to make important, incremental improvements to our court system.