Clerk's Office Celebrates Grand Opening of the Self Help Center

Last Tuesday was a special day at the Clerk’s Office as we officially opened our new Self Help Center at the courthouse. The opening was special for many reasons. First, the center represents a huge step forward for citizens of Orange County who are in need of legal assistance, but cannot afford a private attorney. Our Self Help Center assists customers who have family law, small claims or residential eviction questions.

The opening of the Self Help Center also fulfills a dream I have had for many years. Way back when I was a practicing legal services attorney, I saw the need for this type of legal assistance. So far, we have served more than 600 customers and scheduled more than 55 attorney consultations. We are off to a great start.

Finally, the center’s grand opening gave us the opportunity to recognize someone who is near and dear to the Clerk family. On September 1st, we officially dedicated the Lydia Gardner Self Help Center in honor of the former Clerk of Courts. As many of you may know, Lydia devoted 12 years to our office and her focus on customer service dovetails perfectly with the mission of the center. It was an honor to have her family be part of the dedication ceremony.

To learn more about the Self Help Center, visit www.myorangeclerk.com/self-help. 

Clerk's Social Media Offers News, Updates

As the above YouTube video about the Self Help Center demonstrates, we use social media to share news and information about the Clerk’s Office. It’s now easier than ever to get news and updates via our social media feeds. Events such as holiday closures – like this Monday, September 14, when our office will be closed in observance of Rosh Hashanah. Or when critical systems like my eClerk are unavailable due to scheduled maintenance.

Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to get the scoop on our latest initiatives and community outreach or subscribe to our YouTube channel to check out the latest video from me or one of our deputy clerks.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeClerk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrangeClerk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OrangeCountyClerk

September Star Performer

Our September Star Performer is a former member of the Civil team and was nominated for her hard work and dedication as a transitioning member of the Self Help team.

As a new member of the Self Help Center, deputy clerk Abby Garcia trained in multiple divisions in order to learn all of the services provided. It was during her training in the Family Division where her efforts were highlighted.

“Abby has excelled both as an individual and as a team player,” said a colleague in her nomination letter. “She came in with an open mind and a plan to learn the Family Services processes in no time. She is a quick learner and has quickly adapted to Family. Her customer skills are top notch amazing and she always has a smile on her face, giving her best to the needs of the customers.”