Thursday 4 April 2013

Helping 'Litigants-In-Person' Through Their Legal Journey

Representing yourself in court

"LASPO - will you now have to represent yourself in court?

On 1 April 2013, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) came into force. It means that fewer people now have access to free legal representation than at any time since legal aid (state funding for legal advice and representation) was introduced. This means that if you have a legal problem there is now more chance that you will have to represent yourself.

A Guide

The Bar Council represents all barristers in England and Wales. We believe that access to justice matters. Whether people use barristers' services or not, we think we have a responsibility to explain and demystify the legal system to anyone who comes into contact with it. We have produced a Guide - click here - to help you on your legal journey, which has been written by barristers, who have lots of experience in all kinds of different courts and understand how the system works.

The number of people who do not qualify for legal aid, but equally cannot afford representation, is growing. These people are called 'litigants-in-person' (LIPs) or, as they were previously known; 'self-representing litigants' (SRLs). They will have to go to court (to 'litigate') without a lawyer, and will have to represent themselves.

This Guide looks to help 'litigants-in-person' through their legal journey, which can be a very daunting, complicated and expensive experience."

http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/instructing-a-barrister/representing-yourself-in-court/

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