FLINT, MI -- Michigan Football Coach Jim Harbaugh was in court in Flint on Monday.

But the Wolverines' coach was just observing in Genesee Probate Court and doing some of the clerk's duties on June 19.

"This is real life here," Harbaugh said. "I always think you can learn a lot just by observing."

Harbaugh helped out in Judge F. Kay Behm's courtroom

Behm analyzed Harbaugh's performance during a break, saying he did excellent helping prepare personal protection orders and on other tasks.

"I'm thrilled to have the coach come in and see a real-life courtroom situation and that the difference that legal aid services makes in our community and how important it is and how many people are self-represented," Behm said.

Harbaugh mentioned during last football season that he had wanted to get inside a courtroom to observe, he said.

Attorney Michael J. Behm -- who is a member of Michigan's Board of Regents and the husband of Judge Behm -- reminded the judge about Harbaugh's desire to see the inside of a courtroom.

Attorneys were in and out of the courtroom all day to get a glimpse of Harbaugh.

Flint Attorney Rick Hetherington, who appeared on a child support motion, on the way out asked: "Excuse me judge, but for clarification, I was wondering ... who has it better than us?"

Before the judge could respond, Harbaugh replied,

"I know the answer to that...Nobody!"

"My clerk, my assistant for the day had an answer that says it best," Judge Behm said.

The coach said judges and attorneys sometimes get a bad rap.

"You can see she's really trying to help people," Harbaugh said of Judge Behm.

Harbaugh, a member of the Legal Services Corporation Leaders Council, had a chance to speak last week at a congressional hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building as the LSC unveiled its new report: "The Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans."

"Many of you are probably wondering why a football coach is speaking at an event like this. I may be a football coach, but I am an American first and foremost -- and all Americans should care about equal access to justice," Harbaugh said. "To me, it's not just about Michigan - go blue - it's about 'go red, white and blue.'

"The issue is about fairness, fundamental fairness. As I see it, if you have money, you have access to justice. If you don't have money, you have less access to justice. That's not the way it should work."

Harbaugh, who says he's always been a fan of lawyers - from several of his personal friends to the famous "Judge Judy" - said he became involved with LSC after attending a forum that showed him how many Americans are "left out" of the justice system due to their inability to afford proper legal representation.