Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance

Our team has decades of experience working with courts. We can work with you to address the challenges that are unique to your court while also bringing best practices and examples to bear from across the country. You can see some of our work in this section of the website, and we are also happy to talk about how we might be able to help.

Tiny Chats

Tiny Chats are bite-sized annotated videos that touch on specific access to justice topics and court operations.

Watch videos.

Debt Collection Reform Checklist Generator

The Debt Collection Reform Checklist Generator will help courts implement already-enacted debt collection case rule or statute-based reforms.

This tool will help create customized checklists to help plaintiffs and the court ensure case requirements are met at various stages of the case.

This tool is not a comprehensive discussion of debt collection reform, nor is it intended to help jurisdictions who are at the stage of statutory or rule-based reform. Rather, this tool offers a practical way to help jurisdictions incorporate consumer debt court-based reforms into existing court business practice through the use of checklists. Once created by the tool, these checklists are designed to be further modified to fit each jurisdiction's needs.

If you would like to talk with NCSC staff about your checklists or how to approach implementing their use you can schedule a consultation with NCSC’s Access to Justice Consulting team here.

Your data and responses are not stored or collected by NCSC, and use of this tool is anonymous.

Websites:

Coming Soon:

  • Access to Justice Resource Inventories
  • Michigan Justice for All Strategic Planning and Process Improvement

Examples of Assistance:

State court considerations for the changing "notice and publication" environment
Learn the reasons why state courts should consider the practice of publishing court notices on judicial websites as opposed to traditional practices of publication by newspaper.
Download PDF File (2.0 MB)
eReminders Toolkit
This toolkit is for court staff who want to launch a text or email reminder system or learn more about how to improve their current system. It offers an overview of the different types of systems available and things to keep in mind when designing or selecting a system that best meets your court’s needs.
Download PDF File (700.9 KB)
Court Data Sharing from Scratch
This guide helps small and medium-sized courts start managing data requests responsibly and efficiently. It offers a breakdown of the data request process and introduces key questions courts should consider at each stage. This complements more in-depth materials about creating detailed data policies and is designed to make it easy for beginners to understand and implement court data sharing.
Download PDF File (142.8 KB)
Debt Collection Reform Implementation Toolkit
This toolkit aims to help courts implement already-enacted debt collection case rule or statute based reforms, while offering practical and actionable suggestions to help jurisdictions incorporate consumer debt court-based reforms into existing court business practice. The implementation practices outlined in this toolkit will address key court values by creating better access for all parties in debt collection cases and increasing procedural fairness.
Download PDF File (1.3 MB)
Free Limited Legal Help Services
This report offers an overview and specific considerations related to court-annexed free limited legal help services for self-represented litigants (SRLs).
Download PDF File (725.0 KB)
Family Friendly Amenities
This report discusses the importance of free childcare and lactation rooms in courthouses.
Download PDF File (338.7 KB)
NCSC Guide to Using State Court Data
This guide is designed to help federal, state, and local government entities partner with state courts and use state court data. It contains information about state court data generally, data sharing agreements with courts, and examples of data sharing for research, policymaking, and program enhancement purposes.
Download PDF File (636.5 KB)
Best Practices for Creating Legal Self-Help Materials
This guide contains information and tools for developing self-help materials including plain language tips, language access and ADA considerations, user testing resources, and ideas about where and how to make materials available. It also includes sample materials.
Download PDF File (4.0 MB)
Alternative Court Hours Toolkit
This report examines court's providing alternative hours of service and recommends various approaches to expanding hours.
Download PDF File (6.7 MB)