Celebrating five years of Illinois Court Help with Court Guide Janice Coleman

In celebration of Illinois Court Help's fifth anniversary, we're recognizing the contributions of Illinois Court Help guides. The free service is designed to assist court users through the state's legal system. The following features Janice M. Coleman, who shares her thoughts and experience as a court guide.

When did you start working for Illinois Court Help, and what initially drew you to the role?

I started working at Illinois Court Help on August 8, 2022. I was drawn to the position because I have always had a strong affinity for the law ever since I was in high school.

How would you describe a typical day on the job?

At 8:30 a.m., I am ready to start my day answering phones. The calls come in non-stop until 3:00 p.m. We get calls from all kinds of court users with all kinds of issues. We constantly check with each other on questions that court users may ask. We keep each other updated on a variety of issues, like court closings, new resources, updated information for Zoom instructions in different courtrooms, policies on how to get a court date in different counties, etc.

How has this job changed the way you view the legal system?

In many ways, it has enhanced my appreciation for all the people involved in the court system, including the judges, lawyers, court clerks, and the court users. It is always a challenge to make sure every court user is given the proper instructions that they need to prepare for their court case. Also, the court forms are constantly being improved to help court users. The court clerks also have an incredibly difficult job dealing with managing court users, judges, and an immense amount of data. There are a lot of moving parts to the court system. I had no idea how much work goes into running a smooth court system.

Is there a recurring theme you have noticed from your interactions with court users?

Yes. The recurring theme with my interactions with court users is their appreciation for our assistance. They are extremely grateful.

Can you share a memorable experience from one of your interactions with a court user?

I was helping a woman who wanted to get divorced. She had four children. She said her husband was very abusive. She had been filling out the petition for several days. She finally called for help. She got a rejection for using the wrong filing code, and she could not afford the filing fee. She was absolutely crushed and drained. I helped her resubmit her petition with corrected filing codes, and I emailed her Fee Waiver Forms. She did not realize that there was a way to reduce or eliminate the filing fees until I mentioned it to her. She started crying uncontrollably with such gratitude! She came away from our conversation empowered with new hope for new beginnings.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about the service or your work with Illinois Court Help?

The work that the court guides do gives people the ability to be heard in court. We provide the forms, the knowledge, and the guidance to help you find your court and help with Zoom Court.

Court guides help you understand and go through the court process, wherever you are. I am so honored to be able to help all court users get through their court cases successfully!