{"id":4632,"date":"2003-12-19T12:59:39","date_gmt":"2003-12-19T16:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2003\/12\/19\/a-few-stocking-stuffers-for-l"},"modified":"2011-08-05T15:00:35","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T19:00:35","slug":"a-few-stocking-stuffers-for-legal-consumers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2003\/12\/19\/a-few-stocking-stuffers-for-legal-consumers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Few Stocking-Stuffers for Legal Consumers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Light good ideas<\/span><\/em><\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n
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A number of recent developments should bring joy to consumers of legal services — especially, if they are copied throughout the nation.\u00a0 Let’s hope that these efforts to increase consumer options (and maybe save them a few dollars) are infectious<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


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California Court of Appeal Creates Step by Step <\/em>Guide for the Self-Represented in Civil Appeals<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


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As reported at the Self Help Support<\/a> website, The California Court of Appeal in San Diego has recently released an online\u00a0manual for pro se<\/em> litigants (and “attorneys with little or no appellate experience”) who are bringing civil appeals — The California Court of Appeal Step-by-Step<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


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The manual described the civil appellate process and the related Rules of Court in simple terms.\u00a0\u00a0 The Introduction states:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


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<\/span>The process of appealing a civil case is presented as a series of steps. Many of the steps <\/span>are in the form of questions that you need to answer in the order shown. This manual <\/span>answers some questions and guides you in answering others. <\/span>At the end of each chapter are the forms for the Fourth Appellate District, Division One, <\/span>that are most often used in appeals and are referred to in the chapter. Each form has <\/span>instructions and a blank for you to use in your appeal if you wish to do so and are filing <\/span>in Division One of the Fourth Appellate District. <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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For filing, briefing, and\/or arguing your appeal, think about hiring an attorney if you are <\/span>able to do so. Bringing a case to the Court of Appeal without an attorney is hard work <\/span>and takes a good deal of time. If you are self-represented, you are held to the same level <\/span>of work as if you were an attorney. In most cases, you have only one chance to have the <\/span>court hear your case. In addition, you must follow all of the court\u2019s rules and <\/span>procedures. <\/span> If you do not, your case may be <\/span><\/span>dismissed.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


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Va. County Requires Mediation Orientation for All Cases<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span>Effective Dec. 1, 2003, in order to encourage the consideration of mediation as a dispute resolution option in every case, all civil litigants in Chesterfield County (Virginia) Circuit Court are required to complete\u00a0a Mediation Orientation Certification Form <\/em>and indicate their interest in participating in a mediation orientation session.\u00a0 According to a\u00a0court newsletter<\/a> announcing and describing the program <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


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<\/span> The Mediation Orientation Certification Form <\/em>requires that Counsel certify to the court that they have discussed with their client the availability of mediation and also indicate the client\u2019s willingness to participate in or opt out of an orientation session. A copy of the Mediation Orientation Certification Form <\/em>will be provided to counsel by the Court.\u00a0 . . . Pro se parties will also be required to complete and return the form to the court. If at least one party indicates a willingness to mediate, the court will refer the case to a mediation orientation session. The Court may also on its own motion enter an Order of Referral.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


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A procedure is included that would allow a litigant to opt out of the mediation orientation.\u00a0\u00a0 This is meant to be model program that could, if successful, be\u00a0spread statewide.\u00a0\u00a0(Thanks to Steve Minor<\/a> for the pointer. 12-18-03)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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