Dealing with a debt collector can be an unsettling experience. But dealing with one in court can be downright scary, especially if you don't have a lawyer.

But the University of Detroit Mercy Law School has created a program in 29th District Court in Wayne to make court friendlier -- and fairer -- for defendants in debt collection cases.

The school recently started a Consumer Defense Clinic that offers defendants legal assistance for free in selected cases at the court, where nearly 11% of the 14,475 cases last year involved debt collection.

The program gives second- and third-year law students real courtroom experience. The school hopes to use the program in other district courts.

"The defendants get access to justice rather than being steamrolled by it," said Ian Lyngklip, a prominent Southfield consumer lawyer who runs the program. "You really need a lawyer if you're going to effectively defend yourself against a debt collector."

Lyngklip, who teaches consumer law at the school, said he asked the university to create the program after Wayne District Judge Laura Mack expressed concern about a large number of defendants who were appearing in debt collection cases without lawyers. She was concerned that many of them didn't owe the debt or owed less than the collector alleged.

But, as a judge, Mack can't provide legal assistance or favor one side.

Lyngklip's students have won dismissals on 90% of their cases and racked up another win Dec. 2 by persuading Mack to dismiss a suit against Nicole Moten, 40, of Wayne.