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Please note – this clinic is unable to assist with family law cases if you are a victim of domestic violence in your current relationship. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 to get help. Missouri’s Department of Social Services also has resources available here.  

Who We Are

We are a volunteer-based clinic helping individuals represent themselves on legal issues. The UMKC-LAWMO Self-Help Law Clinic is based in Kansas City, Missouri and can generally assist with civil matters arising out of Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties.

Through the UMKC-LAWMO Self-Help Law Clinic, you can speak with a Missouri licensed attorney about your legal problem and receive legal advice and assistance. Also, if the necessary legal forms are available, we may be able to provide them to you. Please know that clinic attorneys can provide legal assistance, but cannot represent you.

Hours

Clinic assistance is available by appointment only. We have clinic representatives available on weekdays between 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CST. Feel free to call 816-235-2271. If we miss your call, leave your number and a brief description of your legal issue. We will return your call at our first opportunity.

To receive assistance through our clinic, we will ask you to complete an application. After your application is completed, when applicable, we will schedule you to meet with an attorney. We schedule hour-long meetings with attorneys on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At this time, our clinic only offers virtual appointments via Zoom or phone.


How It Works

1. Fill out an application

  • This intake form tells us a little about you and the type of legal issue for which you are requesting help. The more information you can give us about your legal issue, the better we can assist you.
  • We ask for demographic information (such as income, number in household, etc.) for funding requirements, which helps keep our clinic free.
  • Any information you provide us will not be shared — Note, we are not accepting new applications until after the first of the year.
  • ATTENTION: Please read our “Services NOT Available” list before submitting an intake form.

2. Speak with a Clinic Representative

  • A clinic representative will call you in response to your application.
  • The clinic representative may request additional information on your legal issue. If the clinic is able to assist you, an appointment with an attorney will be scheduled.

3. Get ready for your meeting

  • If you have any documents that relate to your legal matter, please send them via email to umkclawprose@umkc.edu.
  • When necessary, a clinic representative may send you legal forms prior to your meeting. Please read over these forms and fill out what you can. That way, the attorney will have more time to address the questions you have. In some cases, we will ask you to email us a draft of the documents before the meeting.

4. Meet with a lawyer

  • Prior to your meeting, we will send a Zoom link to join a video meeting. If you don’t have internet access, you can speak with an attorney by phone.
  • At the time of your meeting, click on the Zoom link or be ready to receive a phone call.
  • The lawyer will discuss your legal issue with you and offer any relevant advice and/or answer your questions.
  • A clinic representative may be present at the meeting and take notes or help with any tech issues.

What You Can Expect

  • Privacy
  • Respect
  • Helpful tips from experienced Missouri attorneys
  • Access to resources
  • Questions about you, your situation, and the task at hand

Services Available

  • Advice and consultation on many non-criminal legal matters
  • Help in the preparation, drafting, and review of simple legal documents (when appropriate)
  • Referrals to appropriate resources, people, or groups within the community

Services NOT Available

  • Representation in court
  • We cannot assist with
    • Matters outside the clinic’s geographic area of service
    • Criminal Matters
    • Appeals
    • Immigration Matters
    • Wills/Trusts
    • Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Matters
    • Adoptions/Guardianships
  • If you have any of the above legal issues, feel free to click below:

Important note about representing yourself in court

Throughout this website we provide information, sample forms, and links to other legal websites. This information is not intended to take the place of legal advice and there is no guarantee that using the provided form will get the result you want. We strongly recommend you complete an application to speak with a UMKC-LAWMO Self-Help Law Clinic volunteer attorney, especially if your case is complex or will be contested. Clinic attorneys can help you understand the laws and the court rules so that you can properly prepare and present your case to the judge. If you choose not to talk to and listen to the advice of an attorney, you may permanently lose important legal rights and claims.

Note: There are risks to representing yourself in court without an attorney. Except for Small Claims Court, most courts in Missouri require people representing themselves to follow formal legal rules and procedures. Clinic attorneys can help you decide if your present legal problem is one that can be handled without legal representation.

If, after discussing your case with a Clinic attorney, you would like further legal assistance or representation for your claim, the Missouri Bar maintains a “Lawyer Search” page where you can find a list of private attorneys. The Missouri Bar’s website: https://mobar.org/public/LawyerSearch.aspx.


Contact the UMKC-LAWMO Self-Help Clinic

Phone: 816-235-2271

Email: umkclawprose@umkc.edu

Leon E. Bloch Law Library
500 E. 52nd St.
Kansas City, MO 64112