The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts recently announced a pilot program where pro se litigants in certain Massachusetts family and probate courts can get limited assistance from attorneys. Massachusetts Law Updates provides a summary of the new program:
Beginning November 1, self-represented litigants in Probate and Family courts in Hampden and Suffolk counties can get some valuable assistance. Under a pilot program announced by the Supreme Judicial Court, attorneys can "assist a pro se litigant on a limited basis without undertaking a full representation of the client on all issues related to the legal matter for which the attorney is engaged." For example, "A qualified attorney may limit the scope of his or her representation of a client if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent." Also, an attorney may make a "limited appearance on behalf of an otherwise unrepresented party." The pilot project is scheduled to last for eighteen months.From Robert Ambrogi's Law Sites.