Courthouse Kiosk Support

With over 80 courthouse kiosks installed statewide, court staff frequently interact with litigants who need kiosk assistance. These resources help you support kiosk users effectively:

Kiosk Capabilities:

• Free Legal Answers access
• Interactive forms with step-by-step guidance
• Legal aid applications
• Court record searches
• Document printing
• Arkansas law and statute searches

Staff Resources:

Kiosk Training Materials

Kiosk Troubleshooting

Printable Kiosk Signs

Submit a Tech Request

Guidelines for Assisting Self-Represented Litigants

Court personnel play a crucial role in making the justice system accessible, but it’s important to distinguish between providing helpful information and crossing into legal advice territory.

What Court Staff CAN Do:

• Provide fact sheets and court forms.
• Share general information about court procedures, timelines, and requirements for filing a case (e.g., filing fees, necessary forms, how to request a hearing date, the process for filing a motion).
• Provide information about court schedules and where to find courtrooms or offices.
• Offer guidance on how to access public records or case information.
• Refer you to a public access kiosk, legal clinics, or online legal resources that explain your legal rights and options.
• Use plain language to explain general terms used in court forms or procedures (e.g., “plaintiff,” “defendant,” “affidavit”).
• Connect you to interpreter services.
• Explain options for hiring an attorney.

What Court Staff CANNOT Do:

• Tell you which legal option to choose or what action to take.
• Interpret the law as it applies specifically to your situation.
• Predict the outcome of your case or offer strategic advice.
• Fill out forms for you or tell you what to write.
• Recommend whether or not you should file a case or proceed in a certain way.
• Recommend a particular attorney or law firm.

Unbundled Legal Services Information

Limited-scope representation benefits everyone in the courthouse. Self-represented litigants who receive some legal help typically:

• Submit properly prepared documents
• Take less court time overall
• Experience fewer rejected filings
• Navigate court procedures more efficiently

Resources for Court Personnel:

Unbundling Legal Services: A Toolkit for Court Leadership

“What Are Unbundled Legal Services?”

Legal Aid & Referral Resources

Many self-represented litigants qualify for free legal assistance. Here’s how to connect them with help:

Legal Aid of Arkansas 

Full representation for eligible low-income clients

Income requirement: 125% of federal poverty guidelines

Case types: Housing, family, consumer, benefits, elder law

Alternative Legal Help

AR Free Legal Answers 
Online attorney advice for civil questions

Free Legal Clinics
Legal Aid of Arkansas shares on their events Calendar monthly free Clinics and Community Events 

Limited Scope Attorneys 
Affordable partial representation

Court Document Translation Services

Language barriers shouldn’t prevent Arkansans from accessing justice. We help courts improve language access through comprehensive translation services that benefit both courts and the communities they serve.

How We Can Help Your Court

Form Translation 
Convert commonly used court forms into needed languages

Language Assessment 
Identify which languages are most needed in your jurisdiction

Plain Language Services 
Create clearer versions of notices and instructions in English and other languages

Data Analysis 
Review your court’s appearance rates and collection data to measure impact

Best Practices Support 
Connect you with proven language access strategies and resources

Translation Services Delivers Measurable Returns

Getting Started

If your court is ready to improve language access and see better outcomes, we’re here to help. Contact us to discuss your jurisdiction’s specific needs and develop a customized translation plan.