In this article, the author provides an overview of the problems facing self-represented litigants and how limited scope agreements and unbundled services can help those litigants. She shows how alternative dispute resolution and limited scope representation work together.
Self-Represented Litigants
Nonlawyer Navigators in State Courts: An Emerging Consensus
Researchers at The Justice Lab at Georgetown Law Center surveyed the current national landscape of nonlawyer navigators. They identified and analyzed 23 programs in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The report is based on extensive outreach and interviews with more than 60 informants who created, oversee or manage nonlawyer navigator programs in court settings. The report describes program features and offers practical considerations for creating and implementing such programs.
New York State Courts Access to Justice Program: 2011 Report
In this report, the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program describes the court programs and initiatives; technology, social media, and publications; how they address the access to justice needs of a diverse population; and community outreach.
An Analysis of Rules that Enable Lawyers to Serve Self-Represented Litigants
This ABA analysis provides an overview the the rules authorizing limited scope representation, rules clarifying communications between counsel and parties, rules creating parameters for the lawyer’s role in document preparation, and rules governing the entry of appearances and withdrawals in court.
Final Report on the Assessment of Telephone-Based Legal Assistance Provided by Pennsylvania Legal Aid Programs Funded Under the Access to Justice Act
This report presents the principal findings and conclusions from a comprehensive evaluation of telephone-based legal assistance being provided by Pennsylvania legal aid programs.
Statewide Action Plan for Serving Self-Represented Litigants
The plan states that court-based staffed self-help centers, supervised by attorneys, are the optimum way for courts to facilitate the timely and cost-effective processing of cases involving self-represented litigants, to increase access to the courts and improve delivery of justice to the public. Well-designed strategies to serve self-represented litigants, and to effectively manage their cases at all stages, must be incorporated and budgeted as core court functions.
The National Self-Represented Litigants Project: Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Self-Represented Litigants, Final Report
This major report is the result of research conducted by Dr. Julie Macfarlane in three Canadian provinces from 2011-2013 on self-represented litigants (SRL’s) in family and civil court. It aims to dispel myths about SRLs including the perception that they choose to self represent because they believe themselves as capable as lawyers. It contains extensive recommendations.
Pro Se Phenomenon
The article reviews the causes of the increase in pro se litigation in the US. Inability to pay is only one of many reasons a litigant will end up going to court pro se. The current state of legal services in the US is failing the people who need help the most. Most clients receive only advice on how to proceed on their own.
Family Law Information Centers: An Evaluation of Three Pilot Programs
This study looked at the impact of pilot programs which established information centers for litigants in family law cases who did not have attorneys. The survey was taken from 1364 customers at the three Family Law Information Centers and 24 judges who oversee family law cases.
Legal Aid Research 