Pro Se University PS opens its doors to help King County families who cannot afford an attorney

Jan. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- Seattle, Washington - January 5, 2010- This economy has left many King County families in a difficult situation.  An increased unemployment rate has left many parents unable to make their child support payments and unable to afford an attorney to help. These families have a tough decision: leave the situation as is or represent themselves in court.  Pro Se University PS opens its doors this January with a mission of helping those who will represent themselves in a family law proceeding.

Marie White, Founder and CEO of Pro Se University PS, has been a solo-practicing lawyer for the past 18 years, focusing exclusively on family law in King County.  Over the years, she has seen an unmet need in her practice area for people who are unable to hire an attorney.  Most pro se (“in one’s behalf”) litigants make mistakes that profoundly affect the outcome of their legal proceeding and their lives.  This is not because they are not smart, but because the process is complex, confusing, and intensely emotional.

Marie’s mission is to change this by offering affordable, explanatory services to guide people through common family law issues. "King County Superior Court is a large bureaucracy, and just like any other large bureaucracy, it demands that those in it strictly follow its procedures,” states White, “this is a necessary evil of the system, because this court hears many thousands of cases every year.  Without imposing order on all this chaos, the system would collapse.  This means that a pro se party must become educated about the system and its procedures and follow them.  The sooner a pro se party learns this cold, hard fact, the sooner he or she will get their day in court and their case over with."

Pro Se University PS offers one-on-one attorney and paralegal support on a pay-as-you-go basis, as well as instruction on very specific topics through Webinars and Seminars.  “Our Webinars and Seminars provide the information necessary to produce the right paperwork, file it in the right place, and show up in the right courtroom for the hearing on that specific issue,” states White.  Currently, Pro Se University PS has scheduled a limited series of Webinars and Seminars on how to adjust a child support payment or modify a child support order, issues of greatest concern to Seattle area families during these difficult economic times. Over the next several months, they will expand this menu of Webinars and Seminars to help pro se litigants work through their other family law Issues.

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Pro Se University PS offers webinars, in-person seminars, and attorney and paralegal support to individuals in Seattle and King County who need legal assistance. These services are built to help those who aren’t able to hire an attorney.