Family law pro se calendars present opportunities for attorneys to represent pro se litigants at family law hearings before Commissioners. Hearings are usually in the mornings from around 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Benefits include:

 

• Practicing at the top of your license as you hone your skills at  interviewing, negotiating and arguing before the court;

• No prep work – just review the pleadings and get to work;

• Limited scope representation, which means your responsibilities for the case begin and end with your appearance on the calendar;

• Feeling good about your work and knowing that you helped someone. For many people, the pro se calendar is their only opportunity to receive high quality advice and representation.

 

Typical issues on pro se calendars include orders to show cause, motions, and removing barriers to finalizing divorce, custody and modification cases. You will speak with your client briefly before engaging in negotiations with the opposing party. If you cannot settle you will have argument before a commissioner. During the course of the calendar, you will often assist more than one pro se litigant.

 

You will be supported as you volunteer:

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• Court staff will provide you with the relevant pleadings in your case;

• Court staff will help with any logistical difficulties you have in connecting with your client or the court;  Commissioners usually wait to call cases until you are ready;

• If the court makes an order, a paralegal will draft the order and have you review it for accuracy;

• Experienced Legal Aid attorneys are assigned to each calendar and can help with procedural or pragmatic questions. 

 

Here are some practice pointers:

 

1. Be clear with your clients that your representation is on a limited scope basis and for the purposes of that hearing only – you can use the retainer in the Resources section below to document this.

2. When you make your appearance before the court, note that you are making a limited appearance for the purposes of that day’s hearing only. Excerpts from relevant sections of the URCP and the Rules of Professional Conduct are in the Resources section below. 

 

A calendar with details on upcoming hearings is below – please note some are remote. Numbers indicate the number of volunteers needed each day. Sign up using the form below the calendar. When you sign up, your name will appear on the calendar. Thank you for your service!