McHenry County launches online legal help

Affording a lawyer can be tough.

Serving as your own lawyer can be even tougher.

With that in mind, McHenry County leaders Friday celebrated the opening of their new Legal Self-Help Center, a computer-based initiative to guide through the legal system those who cannot afford or do not want an attorney.

"I think this is going to be of great assistance to many people in this county," said Judge Michael Sullivan, chief judge for the county's 22nd Judicial Circuit. "It takes them out of wandering around in a vast wasteland to something tangible they can deal with."

The center is available during business hours at computers located within he county's law library at the McHenry County courthouse, public libraries throughout the county or anywhere with Internet access at the Web site mchenry.illinoislegalaid.org.

At the courthouse, a system "navigator" hired by the county will be on hand to help users through the program Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The site itself features an introduction by Sullivan followed by links to legal resources, instructions and forms for legal processes and answers to questions about common legal issues like evictions, mortgage foreclosures, divorce, child support and small claims court.

The center is not intended to replace attorneys for those who can afford them, but its backers recognize not everyone has that option.

"We're providing a service so people can better resolve their legal problems on their own if they have to," said Lisa Colpys, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online. "It's using technology to make the whole process a little easier."

The center is the 12th established across the state since last year by Colpoys' group and the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice. Funding for its first two years is provided by the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. After that, it will be up to the county to find or provide funding to keep it running.