January 14, 2010

Ribbon Cutting for the Civil Law Self-Help Center

The Civil Law Self-Help Center (CLSHC) officially opened for business with a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Event on January 14, 2010. Located on the first floor of the Regional Justice Center, the Civil Law Self-Help Center provides self-represented litigants with the tools to effectively prepare for court. The center offers common civil forms, education and self-help legal information to those wishing to represent themselves in civil matters in the Clark County court system.

“This center allows us to respond to the needs of the community and the courts,” said District Court Presiding Civil Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez. “Our civil caseload has increased this year as more individuals face foreclosure, civil lawsuits and landlord-tenant issues. Many of those people are self-represented and require help in navigating our courts.”

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada provides staffing for the center, which includes a lawyer and two bilingual paralegals. These individuals remain neutral and do not provide legal advice. They do provide education and assistance to individuals. The center offers assistance in the following Legal Topics: Civil Actions, Landlord – Tenant and Evictions, Mediation, Protection Orders, and Small Claims. A mediator is also available to offer litigants the option of using no cost resolution programs to settle their matters outside of a courtroom.

The center, located on the first floor of the RJC, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.

Individuals can utilize the online resources of the Civil Self-Help Center to prepare legal documents over the Internet. This website can be found at the following address: http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/self-help.html.