A Detroit law school is offering advice to low-income residents who want to represent themselves in civil lawsuits in federal court.
The legal clinic staffed by University of Detroit Mercy law students opens Wednesday and will be open three afternoons a week. Students will provide free but limited legal research while being supervised by an attorney.
Federal courts have jurisdiction over civil rights disputes, employment matters and some contract issues. The clinic will help people who have a good claim but can't afford a lawyer.
The clinic was proposed by Judge Victoria Roberts. She says providing legal services to people who can't afford them "gives them a passport to the justice system."
