NEIGHBORHOOD COURT SESSIONS ARE HELD IN THE EVENINGS AT A RECREATION CENTER SERVING APPROXIMATELY 45,000 LOW-INCOME, PRIMARILY MEXICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE COURT'S PROCEDURES ARE PRIVATE AND INFORMAL -- DESIGNED TO OVERCOME THE TENDENCY OF LOW-INCOME CITIZENS TO REGARD THE COURT SYSTEM WITH APPREHENSION. SPANISH-SPEAKING CLERKS HANDLE PROCESSING AND PAPERWORK. VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS MEET WITH LITIGANTS AND HELP THEM TO RESOLVE THEIR DISPUTES THROUGH MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION. THOUGH QUASI-JUDICIAL, THE PROCEDURES ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. IN ITS FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OPERATIONS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM HANDLED 164 INQUIRIES RESULTING IN 60 ACTUAL FILINGS. THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN INQUIRIES AND FILINGS, THOUGHT TO BE AN INDICATION OF GROWING COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROGRAM. TYPES OF CASES HAVE INCLUDED A WIDE VARIETY OF TORT AND CONTRACT SITUATIONS, THE MOST COMMON BEING AUTO ACCIDENT PROPERTY DAMAGE CASES. DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM'S STAFFING, FUNDING, ADMINISTRATION, CASE-HANDLING PROCEDURES, CASELOADS, AND PUBLICITY EFFORTS ARE PROVIDED.