Self Represented Litigation - help !

What is self-represented litigation?

An individual is self represented when they are a party to a legal matter, and have not engaged a lawyer to represent them. The self-represented litigant works alone, solo.

There are two primary types of legal representation.

1. You can engage a lawyer to represent you, and that lawyer will do absolutely everything, such as communicating with other parties, preparing court documents, filing and serving court documents, and so on. In this situation, you have to contact your lawyer about everything, and you enjoy the luxury of sitting back, knowing your lawyer is in control.

   
   

2. You obtain legal advice from a lawyer, and it stops there. You attend to all other litigious process yourself. You engage with your lawyer when you need legal advice, and you work alone, solo, as a self-represented litigant, at all other times.

For most of us, the first type of legal representation is the preferred choice. However, this comes at a very high cost. Not many of us can afford this. The natural decision is to obtain legal advice, and do the rest of the work yourself, as the second type of legal representation.

Therefore, you are a self represented litigant if:

1. You have obtained legal advice and you take it from there, alone, solo.

   
   

2. You do not obtain legal advice, and you do everything yourself.

Self representation can be challenging for anyone that does not understand the core foundation of legal procedure. This is so common and so challenging that many individuals decide not to commence or respond to legal proceedings at all. This inhibits an individual's opportunity to access the law and legal process to defend their entitlements and enforce the obligations of another party that has done wrong.

Inhibited access to legal proceedings is not fair, it undermines the concept of equality before the law, procedural fairness, and social justice.

Believe me when I tell you that I have seen many individuals give up because they are confused, overwhelmed, and emotionally deflated.

This is why I am here!

I have over twenty years' exprience in the Perth legal industry, in most areas of law. I have worked as a law clerk and paralegal, and I still practice as a Human Resources and Industrial Relations Consultant.

As a qualified Paralegal Consultant, I can connect our clients to information that supports equality and inclusion. And, if there is something I do not know, I FIND OUT!

Let us know today if you are struggling to understand any aspect of your role as a self represented litigant.

The support you need IS available, you CAN do this yourself, and you do NOT have to sacrfice your entitlement to a fair and equal outcome through the legal justice system.