The Legal Self-Help Office at the Douglas County District Court is looking for volunteers to assist customers in filling out intake forms, directing them to appropriate resources on office computers located or printed forms, and connecting them to appropriate community supports as appropriate.
Self-Help Center volunteers commit to at least two hours per week in the center. Onboarding as a SHC volunteer is done through a combination of online training and on-the-job immersion assisting individuals who represent themselves in legal matters. Volunteers provide neutral, accurate, and reliable information through professional conduct. Volunteers do not provide legal advice but provide resource information to customers needing elevated legal support. Volunteering in the SHC is great for individuals who enjoy taking a proactive, engaged approach to helping people during potentially high-stress encounters.
Volunteers will be located in the SHC within the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, with frequent contact and interaction with members of the public and court staff. Volunteering at the SHC is perfect for those interested in the law generally, are considering a profession in the law, or are otherwise committed to access to justice.
To sign up to volunteer, complete the District Court's volunteer interest form.
For questions, please contact the District Court Volunteer Coordinator (courtvolunteer@dgcoks.gov).
Accessible via the 1 and 4 Lawrence Transit bus lines, as well as T Lift and Lawrence Transit on Demand. If any barriers are preventing you from participating in service, see if a Community Service Capacity Award is right for you.
Our community partners rely on volunteers to facilitate and support their programs. Before signing up for a volunteer opportunity, please consider whether you have the time and capacity to serve. We understand that life happens, but please try your best to provide community partners at least a 48-hour notice if you need to cancel your volunteer shift.
If you plan to participate in long-term volunteering or service projects with our community partners, we highly recommend completing a Service Project Agreement to set clear expectations between you and the organization.
If you plan to use any service hours completed through our community partners for the Certificate in Service Learning service hour requirement, we recommend completing a Service Verification Form to ensure those hours can be verified by our team
Last Updated January 30, 2026
