A self-help desk at the Cook County Domestic Relations Division opened Aug. 20 to assist litigants who are unable to afford legal representation in child support enforcement and paternity matters.

Located in the Expedited Child Support Program office in suite 1400, 32 W. Randolph St., Chicago, the desk will be staffed by two Chicago Legal Clinic attorneys and a support assistant, all of whom speak Spanish.

They will offer advice on legal matters, explain court procedures, help fill out forms and make appropriate referrals, but will not represent clients in court. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, first-come first-served.

Support is provided by the Illinois Bar Foundation, Chicago Bar Foundation, the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois and the Cook County Circuit Court.

“This help desk is a really great opportunity for us to help between 1,800 and 2,400 clients in the first year of operation,” said Edward Grossman, executive director of the Legal Clinic.

“These are clients facing difficult issues in a complex legal process who otherwise would have no access to the legal system,” he added.