Self-Representation in the Appeals Court

Self-represented parties are held to the same standard, and bound by the same rules, as are attorneys when proceeding in the Appeals Court.

Overview

In the Appeals Court, you have the right to proceed without an attorney as a self-represented party.  Although self-represented parties are not represented by attorneys, they are held to the same standards and bound by the same rules as attorneys.  The Appeals Court understands the difficulties you, as a self-represented party, may encounter during your appeal and has created the following collection of resources to help you navigate the appeals process.

It is your responsibility to find the resources necessary to make your case to the Appeals Court.  The links presented on this page are offered to help you get started.  The staff at the Appeals Court Clerk's Office are available to answer your procedural questions, but they cannot provide legal advice.  You are responsible for doing your own legal research and for finding answers to your legal questions.

Resources

Civil Appeals Clinic.  The Civil Appeals Clinic is run by the Volunteer Lawyers Project and staffed by volunteer attorneys.  It is limited to low-income persons who qualify for services in certain types of civil appeals.  The Clinic operates at the Appeals Court Clerk's Office at the John Adams Courthouse on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  The Clinic staff may be able to assist you remotely during this time if you are unable to travel to the courthouse.  To sign up for the clinic, you may call [phone] or apply online.

Court Forms Online.  Court Forms Online can help you prepare selected filings for the Appeals Court.  This service will convert your answers to online interview questions into a filing for submission to the Appeals Court.  This program is part of the Suffolk University Law School Legal Innovation & Technology ("LIT") Lab Document Assembly Line project and is approved by the Appeals Court.

Informal Brief Pilot Program. The Appeals Court's Informal Brief Pilot Program permits self-represented parties to file an "informal" brief instead of a formal brief, which simplifies the filing procedures for self-represented parties.  For more information, please visit the Informal Brief Pilot Program webpage or watch this educational video.

Appeals Court Help Center. The Appeals Court's online Help Center contains a collection of guides, informational pages, and other resources providing information about the appeals process.  For example, you can find information on various topics, including:

• Requirements for starting an appeal in each trial court department;
• Frequent appellate process questions;
• Single justice practice; and
• Appeals Court Forms.

Electronic Filing at the Appeals Court Webpage.  This webpage provides resources to help you learn how to electronically file documents in your Appeals Court case using the eFileMA system.

Appeals Court Public Docket.  The Appeals Court's public docket offers public access to non-impounded case dockets including briefs filed in some past cases and in cases currently scheduled for oral argument.

Massachusetts Courts' Self-Help Webpage.  The Massachusetts Courts' Self-Help webpage provides information on appeals that do not go directly to the Appeals Court.  For example, appeals from the Division of Unemployment, state agencies, and civil matters originating in the district courts or Boston Municipal Courts have different appeal processes.

Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries.  The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries provides legal resources which are accessible both in the libraries and online.  You can receive legal reference assistance, borrow books, and use print and electronic resources.  The law libraries' webpage also has resources to help you understand and create legal citations.

Social Law Library Webpage.  The Social Law Library's webpage provides a list of resources for accessing free legal materials in Massachusetts.

Office of the Reporter of Decisions.  The Supreme Judicial Court's Office of the Reporter of Decision publishes the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decisions and the Massachusetts Appeals Court decisions.  You can access the newest appellate decisions, a searchable collection of past decisions, and revisions of previously published decisions through their webpage.

Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder.  Depending on your income and case nature, the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder may be able to provide you with contact information for legal aid offices, government agencies, court programs, and links to free legal information and self-help materials.  Alternatively, you can contact your local attorney referral services.

MassLegalServices.  MassLegalServices's webpage offers extensive information on areas of laws that affect low-income individuals in civil proceedings, and a poverty law resource library available to the public.  You may also try calling a local lawyer referral service:

Massachusetts Bar Association:  [phone]

Boston Bar Association:  [phone]

National Lawyers Guild:  [phone]

MassLegalHelp.  MassLegalHelp's webpage provides free, understandable, and practical legal information on issues affecting low-income individuals, including unemployment, housing, income and benefits, school, domestic violence, children and families, seniors, CORI, disability, health and mental health.