Pro se, say what?

With the economy on shaky ground and the recent rash of foreclosures and credit issues, pro se litigants are on the rise. According to Noeleen G. Walder of the New York Law Journal as many as 95% of litigants in foreclosure cases are unrepresented and as many as 99% are unrepresented in consumer credit cases. Those are high numbers and for attorneys that means a host of programs are springing up to help provide legal advice and pro bono counsel to underserved populations.

The Denver Bar Association website lists 16 different county wide pro bono programs serving the state and Metro Volunteer Lawyers makes a goal out of recruiting attorneys who can provide services to pro se litigants. Law students at DU must complete up to 50 hours of uncompensated public interest work during their law school career as a prerequisite to graduation and DU offers a variety of ways to do that other than the organizations listed above. If you are interested in getting some experience and helping those in need, contact Lindsey Webb, Esq., Director of Public Interest, (303) 871.6585, lwebb@law.du.edu , for a detailed listing of programs that assist pro se litigants.

References:

American Bar Association

Law.com

Written by Kimberley Dickey, Law Librarian Fellow