PROBONO: The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program - Court Navigator Training

The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program

Court Navigator Training

Training Date & Time:

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Bronx County Civil Court at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451 – Room 504

RSVP Required: Send an e-mail to sogarro@nycourts.gov to register for the training with a copy of your resume

Volunteer Service: A minimum requirement of 30 hours of volunteer service is required within 90 days of training completion.

RSVP Required: Send an e-mail to sogarro@nycourts.gov to register for the training with a copy of your resume.  

All volunteers are mandated to participate in the training provided by the Honorable Fern A. Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the New York City Courts and Director of the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program, and/or her staff.

Training topics include Consumer Debt and Housing Court Overview, Basics of Non-payment Proceedings, How Civil Court Works and Court Navigator Role/Responsibilities. Each volunteer will receive an electronic copy of the program manual, and, upon request, a certificate of volunteer service upon completion of the training and volunteer hours.

Volunteers are given flexibility with their schedules and may volunteer any day of the week: Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

The Court Navigator Program trains volunteers to provide in-court assistance to unrepresented litigants.

Join the Court Navigator Program if you would like to:

• Help unrepresented litigants have a productive court experience through an offering of non-legal support; 
• Ensure unrepresented litigants are aware of all of the resources available to them, so that they may better advocate for themselves; and 
• Provide unrepresented litigants with the confidence to discuss their claims or defenses before a court attorney or judge. 

• The Court Navigator Program is a court sponsored volunteer program available to undergraduate college students, law students and other approved volunteers who provide non-legal assistance to persons who appear in court without a lawyer, also known as unrepresented persons. Court Navigators cannot give any legal advice but they can provide information concerning various resources, assistance filling out court documents/using DIY (do-it-yourself) programs and support unrepresented persons during court proceedings/negotiations. All navigators must attend a 2 1/2 hour training seminar before working in the courts.