Legal Research

Materials on Self-Represented Litigants

By Michel-Adrien Sheppard

Materials from a January 2010 conference held by the Self?Represented Litigation Network of the U.S.-based National Center for State Courts were recently posted on the Webjunction website.

The conference took place in Austin, Texas.

“The Self-Represented Litigation Network is an open and growing group of organizations and working groups dedicated to fulfilling the promise of a justice system that works for all, including those who cannot afford lawyers and who go to court on their own. The Network brings together a range of organizations including courts, and access to justice organizations in support of innovations in services for the self?represented (…) ”

“We hope that you will find the Conference materials energizing, and helpful. Above all, we hope that they will cement your commitment to the use of public libraries for access to justice, and that it will help you build the partnerships and give you the tools to be effective in this work. ”

“Public libraries are critical access points to government institutions. As times get tougher, it becomes more and more important that people have libraries where they can find out how to protect their rights and navigate the complexities of our society. It also becomes more and more important that libraries can show how important and effective they are at meeting this need. “

In Canada, the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice, a national organization based at the University of Alberta, has created what it calls an inventory of civil justice reforms in Canada. It contains descriptions of reform initiatives from across the country, as well as proposed reforms from law reform commissions, task force reports, and the like. This includes initiatives aimed at helping self-represented litigants and public legal education and information programs.

Cross-posted to the Library Boy blog.

Full post as published by Slaw.ca on April 07, 2010 (boomark / email).