A COACH FOR THE COURTROOM

People who represent themselves in family law, landlord-tenant and small claims cases in Hillsborough County don’t have to go through their cases blindly. The Legal Information Center can answer their questions about courts and procedures so they can better represent themselves. Bay Area Legal Service’s free self-help program provided answers to its 50,000th visitor in early October.

LAW FIRM’S IDEA ENLIGHTENS THE MASSES

“What’s the difference between a judge and a general magistrate?’’ “How do I file a case to obtain custody of my live-in grandchildren?’’ “My daughter’s mother won’t let me see her -- how do I get visitation rights?’’

These are typical questions fielded by the lawyer who staffs the Legal Information Center, an innovative partnership of Bay Area, TECO Energy, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Fowler White Boggs -- the law firm that started the service as a pro bono project.

For years, Fowler White’s lawyers provided free help to people who were representing themselves. Over time, they realized the demand for pro se assistance, particularly in family law, far exceeded the time they could devote as volunteers. Discussions among the eventual partners led to creation of the Legal Information Center, located in the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse and staffed by a full-time Bay Area lawyer. Attorney Susan Miles Whitaker opened the doors of the center in October of 2000.

About 90 percent of the people who come to the center need help with a family law case. The center focuses solely on those cases, landlord-tenant disputes and small claims actions. Once given more information and a clearer understanding of the process, these people are better equipped to make informed decisions about their cases. Many are referred to the Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program’s Family Forms Clinic for pro bono assistance with the court approved family law forms.

For more information about the program, call (813) 864-2280 or visit the Self Help page at www.bals.org.