The Massachusetts Trial Court has released this Guide, prepared by the Court Personnel Working Group of the Supreme Judicial Court Steering Committee on Self-Represented Litigant, to provide court personnel with practical guidelines to help them provide effective assistance and useful information to court users. The Guide sets forth guidelines for distinguishing "legal information" from "legal advice" and specifically provides that "Court staff may provide to court users as much information and as many options as possible, without interfering in or directing the decision to be made by court users or affecting their legal rights." The Guide also specifically states that "[p]roviding basic assistance with court forms does NOT constitute giving legal advice or engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The court does not depart from its impartial role by providing forms and directing court users as to their proper use."p>

The Guide sets forth specific frequently asked questions, with sample responses, for issues that arise in the following courts: Supreme Judicial Court, Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Suffolk; Appeals Court, Superior Court Department, Land Court Department, Probate and Family Court Department, Housing Court Department, District Court Department, Boston Municipal Court Department, and Juvenile Court Department.

This item was originally posted at http://www.masslegalservices.org/content/serving-self-represented-litigant-guide-and-massachusetts-court-staff