Training Material & Educational Programs | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Standardized Statewide Forms

Remote Appearances

Resources for working with Self-Represented Litigants

• Judicial Bench Card: Self-Represented People in the Courtroom
• Checklist for Self-Represented Litigant Computer Stations

Plain Language

• Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Plain Language
• Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice Plain Language Reference Guide

Unconscious Bias

• Judicial Bench Card: Achieving Fairness Free of Unconscious Bias
• Ideas for Promoting Deliberativeness and Overcoming Barriers to Deliberativeness
• Implicit Bias Additional Reading

Language Access

• Supreme Court Language Access Policy
• Judicial Bench Card: Courtroom Interpreting
• Court Personnel Information Card: Limited English Proficient Individuals
• Illinois Language Interpreter Registry
• Request for Interpreter
• Interpreter Sign for Courthouses – 6 languages
• Interpreter Services “I Speak” Card – 35 languages
• Interpreter Services “I Speak” Card – 38 languages (LEP.gov)

Disability Access

• Reasonable Accommodations Flowchart
• Judicial Bench Card: Access for People with Disabilities

Forms Pertaining to the Supreme Court of Illinois Policy on Access for Persons with Disabilities:

• Supreme Court of Illinois Policy on Access for People with Disabilities

• Request for Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Form
• Americans with Disabilities Grievance Form
• Americans with Disabilities Appeal Form

Court Disability Coordinator Contact Form:

• Court Disability Coordinator Contact

Assistance to Court Users

• Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Assistance to Court Patrons By Circuit Clerks, Court Staff, Law Librarians and Court Volunteers ("Safe Harbor" Policy) in English - Latest update 1/2024
• What is Legal Information? (A Guide to the Safe Harbor Policy) - Latest update 1/2024
• Court Personnel Desk Card: What Information Can I Provide to Court Patrons? (A Desk Card Summarizing the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Assistance to Court Patrons) - Latest update 1/2024
• How Can Court Personnel Help You? (Public-Facing Sign About What Assistance Can and Cannot be Provided) in English - Latest update 1/2024
• National Center for State Court videos on Legal Advice vs. Legal Information (English with English Subtitles or English with Spanish Subtitles)

Referrals/Sample Resources

• Judicial Bench Card: Limited Scope Representation - Latest update 1/2024
• Referral Sheets: https://www.illinoisbarfoundation.org/illinois-justicecorps
• Cook County Referral Information: https://chicagobarfoundation.org/find-legal-help/
• National Center for State Court Videos (Legal Advice vs. Legal Info, Motions, Coming to Court on Your Own, legal Language, Small Claims) for you to use in your courthouses and on your local websites

Samples:

• Opening Statement
• Information Sheet Handouts
• Courtroom Signage About Checking-In
• Cell Phone Materials
  • Courthouse Sign Cell Phones Allowed (pdf)
  • Courthouse Sign Cell Phones Prohibited (pdf)
  • Model Policy Cell Phones Allowed (word)
  • Model Policy Cell Phones Prohibited (word)

Checklist/Prescription Pads

• Prescription Pad English-Spanish/Español
• Prescription Legal Pad

Other Access to Justice Material

• Statewide Forms Sign
• Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Portable Electronic Devices

Fee & Assessment Waivers

• Judicial Bench Card: Civil Fee and Criminal Assessment Waivers - Latest update 1/2024
• 2024 Annual & Monthly Federal Poverty Level Guidelines Chart
• Fee & Assessment Waiver Sign (English & Spanish/Español) - Latest update 1/2024
• Illinois Court $ Waivers Overview

E-Filing

• Judicial Bench Card: E-filing and Judicial Discretion
• Court Personnel Information Card: How Can Clerks Best Assist Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs) with E-filing?