Addressing the Needs of Self-Represented Litigants in the Canadian Justice System

Authors

Trevor C. W. Farrow, Osgoode Hall Law School of York UniversityFollow
Diana Lowe
Martha E. SimmonsFollow
Bradley Albrecht
Heather Manweiller

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

City

Toronto and Edmonton

Keywords

Pro se representation; Justice, Administration of; Actions and defenses; Canada

Abstract

How can the Canadian justice system better assist self-represented litigants (SRLs) with their legal needs?

There is a service gap that exists in the Canadian justice system between what SRLs need and what is currently being provided. The system needs to better address how SRLs understand, avoid, manage and resolve their legal issues.

While the entire justice system has a role to play in understanding and addressing this question, courts and court administrators in particular have a central role to play. Some important efforts have begun to address the needs of SRLs. However, major challenges persist in providing adequate court services to SRLs.

Comments

A White Paper prepared for the Association of Canadian Court Administrators (ACCA).

Repository Citation

Farrow, Trevor C. W.; Lowe, Diana; Simmons, Martha E.; Albrecht, Bradley; and Manweiller, Heather, "Addressing the Needs of Self-Represented Litigants in the Canadian Justice System" (Toronto and Edmonton: 2012). Commissioned Reports, Studies and Public Policy Documents. Paper 38.
https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/reports/38