5th Annual Current Topics in Ethics & Professionalism
1 Hour Professionalism
The number of self-represented litigants can be as high as 80% in some courts.1 Yet very little empirical research has been done on their experiences until recently. In May 2013, Dr. Julie MacFarlane, professor of law at the University of Windsor, completed such a study for the LSUC entitled, The National Self-Represented Litigants Project: Identifying And Meeting the Needs of Self-Represented Litigants.
Join Dr. Julie Macfarlane to learn about:
- How to prepare your client for the tribulations of dealing with a self-represented litigant, ie. understanding of how it can cost your client more when there is an unrepresented party on the other side, and providing examples of how to communicate this to clients (10 mins)
- How not to underestimate the self-represented litigant ie. examples from her study and strategies to avoid underestimating self-represented litigants (10 mins)
- How to practice offensively and defensively with a self represented litigant ie. best practice tips from her study (10 mins)
- What is the role of the lawyer when the opposing side is self-represented ie. explanation of rules of professional conduct and practical manifestation of these rules (10 mins)
- What is the role of the judge when one of the parties is self-represented, ie. understanding of the administration of justice when an unrepresented party is involved
- What do self-represented litigants say about judges and lawyers, ie. understanding where change/improved conduct can occur (10 mins)
