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.

Want to discuss your checklists or how to implement them? Schedule a consultation with NCSC's Access to Justice Consulting team.

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:

Leveraging check-In, Queuing, and Wayfinding Technology to Provide Better Access to Court Services
Check-in, queuing, and wayfinding technologies are transforming the way people navigate courthouses and access court services. This document discusses how leveraging these technologies can increase the efficiency and productivity of court procedures, improve public confidence, create a more user-friendly and accessible environment, and offer visitors a better experience.
Download PDF File (5.6 MB)
National Scan of Safe Harbor Policies
This toolkit is aimed at helping courts identify key elements to include in their own Safe Harbor policies and provides best practices for disseminating this information to both court staff and patrons. It outlines how courts can support self-represented litigants by distinguishing legal information from legal advice. The toolkit also includes an appendix that compiles Safe Harbor policies and related documents, organized by state, to aid in effective policy development and implementation.
Download PDF File (949.2 KB)
User Testing Toolkit
This toolkit provides comprehensive guidance for court staff, legal aid organizations, and self-help centers to conduct user testing of court resources. It includes practical steps, templates, and best practices for ensuring that court resources like forms, websites, and self-help materials are user-friendly and accessible. This toolkit aims to empower organizations to create resources that better serve diverse populations by proactively identifying usability issues to improve the overall user experience.
Download PDF File (1.2 MB)
QR Code Best Practices Guide
Quick response codes, or QR codes, are a type of bar code that can be easily read by cell phone cameras. Courts can use QR codes to easily direct patrons to websites and documents with important information. This resource offers practical tips for using QR codes and real-world examples from courts.
Download PDF File (8.1 MB)
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)