Help self-represented litigants win.
Over 80% of family court cases involve at least one unrepresented party. These litigants face impossible complexity -- byzantine procedures, unfamiliar legal terminology, strict deadlines, and high-stakes outcomes -- with no guidance. The system was designed for lawyers, and without one, most people are set up to fail.
The Pro Se Assistant Toolkit provides case strategy guidance, smart checklists, deadline tracking, and a court preparation simulator. It meets self-represented litigants where they are and walks them through every step -- from identifying their case type to walking into the courtroom prepared.
graph LR
A[Case Type<br/>Selector] --> B[Strategy Advisor<br/>Issue Spotter<br/>+ Priority Ranker]
B --> C[Checklist Engine<br/>Dynamic +<br/>Jurisdiction-Aware]
C --> D[Deadline Tracker<br/>Calendar<br/>+ Reminders]
D --> E[Court Prep Simulator<br/>What to Say<br/>What to Bring<br/>What to Expect]
E --> F[Hearing Day<br/>Companion]
- Self-represented litigants -- the 80%+ of family court participants without attorneys
- Court self-help centers looking for digital tools to extend their reach
- Legal aid triage staff who need to quickly orient new clients
- Law school clinics training students while serving real communities
- Case type identification and strategy guidance -- understand your situation and what to prioritize
- Dynamic checklists by jurisdiction and case type -- never miss a required document or step
- Deadline tracking with calendar integration -- stay on top of filing windows and court dates
- Court preparation simulator with practice Q&A -- rehearse before the real thing
- "Day of court" companion checklist -- what to bring, what to wear, what to expect
- Plain-language legal explanations -- no legalese, just clear answers
git clone https://github.com/dougdevitre/pro-se-toolkit.git
cd pro-se-toolkit
npm install
npm run devimport { ChecklistEngine } from '@justice-os/pro-se-toolkit/checklists/engine';
import { CourtPrepSimulator } from '@justice-os/pro-se-toolkit/court-prep/simulator';
// Generate a jurisdiction-specific checklist
const engine = new ChecklistEngine();
const checklist = await engine.generate('custody-modification', 'MO');
console.log(`${checklist.length} items generated`);
engine.markComplete(checklist[0].id);
const validation = engine.validate();
console.log(`Filing ready: ${validation.ready}`);
// Practice for court
const sim = new CourtPrepSimulator();
await sim.load('custody');
const question = sim.getCurrentQuestion();
console.log(question?.question);
const result = sim.submitAnswer('Your Honor, circumstances have changed...');
console.log(result.feedback);
// Get the day-of checklist
const dayOf = sim.getDayOfChecklist();See examples/family-court-checklist.ts for a complete walkthrough.
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Case type identification and strategy guidance | Done |
| Dynamic checklists by jurisdiction and case type | In Progress |
| Deadline tracking with calendar integration | In Progress |
| Court preparation simulator with practice Q&A | Planned |
| Day-of-court companion checklist | Planned |
| Plain-language legal explanations library | Planned |
See docs/architecture.md for detailed Mermaid diagrams covering case flow, checklist generation, deadline tracking, and court prep simulation.
See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
MIT -- see LICENSE for details.
This repository is part of the Justice OS open-source ecosystem — 32 interconnected projects building the infrastructure for accessible justice technology.
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| justice-os | Core modular platform — the foundation |
| justice-api-gateway | Interoperability layer for courts |
| legal-identity-layer | Universal legal identity and auth |
| case-continuity-engine | Never lose case history across systems |
| offline-justice-sync | Works without internet — local-first sync |
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| justice-navigator | Google Maps for legal problems |
| mobile-court-access | Mobile-first court access kit |
| cognitive-load-ui | Design system for stressed users |
| multilingual-justice | Real-time legal translation |
| voice-legal-interface | Justice without reading or typing |
| legal-plain-language | Turn legalese into human language |
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| vetted-legal-ai | RAG engine with citation validation |
| justice-knowledge-graph | Open data layer for laws and procedures |
| legal-ai-guardrails | AI safety SDK for justice use |
| emotional-intelligence-ai | Reduce conflict, improve outcomes |
| ai-reasoning-engine | Show your work for AI decisions |
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| evidence-vault | Privacy-first secure evidence storage |
| court-notification-engine | Smart deadline and hearing alerts |
| justice-analytics | Bias detection and disparity dashboards |
| evidence-timeline | Evidence timeline builder |
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| court-doc-engine | TurboTax for legal filings |
| justice-workflow-engine | Zapier for legal processes |
| pro-se-toolkit | Self-represented litigant tools |
| justice-score-engine | Access-to-justice measurement |
| justice-app-generator | No-code builder for justice tools |
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| justice-persona-simulator | Test products against real human realities |
| justice-experiment-lab | A/B testing for justice outcomes |
| Repository | Description |
|---|---|
| digital-literacy-sim | Digital literacy simulator |
| legal-resource-discovery | Find the right help instantly |
| court-simulation-sandbox | Practice before the real thing |
| justice-components | Reusable component library |
| justice-dev-starter-kit | Ultimate boilerplate for justice tech builders |
Built with purpose. Open by design. Justice for all.
This project is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, legal representation, or an attorney-client relationship. No warranty is made regarding accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular legal matter. Always consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before making legal decisions. Use of this software does not create any professional-client relationship.
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