UK litigants in person report as increase expected following legal aid cuts

An increase in litigants in person is anticipated as a result of cuts to UK legal aid. The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has issued a report titled Access to Justice for Litigants in Person (or self-represented litigants) which sets out methods of making the system less complex for those who represent themselves in court.

The CJC comments that the report is not a panacea for the problems facing those who represent themselves, stating "the proposed reductions are a matter of regret. This is because, if the focus is on the individual citizen (and not the lawyer), their legal rights can be as important as their health, deserving of the same respect, and meriting equivalent support".

Key findings of the report include:

• the use of technology alone is not sufficient, especially for those most vulnerable;
• greater transparency should be achieved with regard to what is expected of judges;
• the role of the mediator is important;
• public legal education is important;
• there should be more research on the numbers of litigants in person; and
• there should be improved communications between the judiciary and court staff and between court staff and the legal advice and pro bono sectors.

Click here to view a piece by the Guardian.

Click here to view a piece by the Human Rights Blog.

The report emphasises the importance of public legal education. The importance of legal literacy was highlighted by former Irish President Mary McAleese in a speech earlier this year at the Irish Law Society's annual dinner. Click here to view an excerpt from Mary McAleese's speech in an article from the Irish Times.

Readers of the Bulletin can find more information on community legal education programmes on the websites of Irish community and independent law centres, including Ballymun Community Law Centre, Northside Community Law Centre, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Irish Traveller Movement Law Centre.

Readers can also find free traing materials from legal education sessions delivered to NGOs pro bono through PILA by clicking here.