When Cesar Bello’s home of 17 years was sold and strange men started showing up at his door pressuring his family to move, he knew he had to do something. That’s how he and his family ended up in the often confusing world of housing court. He was lucky that he found free legal help. But most people in civil court don’t. Unlike in criminal court, there’s no guaranteed right to a lawyer. For many people with low-income means, that means facing the judge without any professional legal help.

Photo by Youngking11 (Wikimedia Commons)