CURRENTLY, SMALL CLAIMS COURTS EXIST IN EVERY STATE, YET AN ESTIMATED 41 MILLION PEOPLE, LARGELY IN RURAL AREAS, HAVE NO ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF JUDICIAL FORUM. SMALL CLAIMS COURTS SHOULD CONSTITUTE EFFECTIVE FORUMS FOR ALL PERSONS IN NEED OF REDRESS REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL MEANS. MOREOVER, THESE COURTS MAY BEST PRODUCE EFFICIENT AND INEXPENSIVE JUSTICE WITH JUDGES ASSUMING IMPORTANT ROLES BUT WITH SOME ADVERSARIAL FEATURES. ALSO, BECAUSE PLAINTIFFS COMPLAIN THAT THE COURTS' HOURS OF OPERATION ARE SHORT AND INCONVENIENT, EVENING OR WEEKEND SESSIONS ARE RECOMMENDED. OTHER SUGGESTED CHANGES CONCERN THE COURTS' SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, TYPES OF REMEDIES AVAILABLE, TYPES OF CLAIMANTS ALLOWED TO USE THE COURTS, THE ROLES PLAYED BY COURT PERSONNEL (ATTORNEYS, CLERKS, LEGAL PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND JUDGES), PRETRIAL PROCEDURES (VENUE, PLEADINGS, FEES, ETC.), TRIAL PROCEDURES (CONDUCT OF THE HEARING, SUBSTANTIVE LAW, CONTINUANCES, DEFAULT JUDGMENTS), AND POSTTRIAL PROCEDURES (APPEALS, ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS). THE APPENDED MODEL SMALL CLAIMS COURT ACT CONTAINS MOST OF THE SUGGESTED CHANGES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.