Pro Se
means "on one's own behalf." Representing
oneself in court used to be a time-honored American
tradition and is still a constitutional right of
everyone. A 1991 American Bar Association study of
self-represented litigants showed:
- Persons with incomes less than $50,000
are more likely to represent themselves.
- About 20% of self-represented litigants
report they can afford an attorney but do not
want one.
- Self-represented persons are more likely
to be satisfied with the judicial process than
those who are represented by attorneys.
- Almost 75% of those who represented
themselves in court said they would do it again.
Self-representation, when combined with the
power of modern information technology can be an
important means of providing increased access to the
legal system. This website is designed as a resource
center on self-representation in civil legal matters. Our
purpose is to provide a collection of materials and
resources that can be used to create legal service
delivery systems that are based on the concept of "pro
se" or "self"
representation.
Bibliography on
Self-Representation and "Unbundling" of Legal
Services
Cases and
Materials on Pro Se Litigation and Related Issues
by Jona Goldschmidt, Associate Professor, Department of
Criminal Justice, Loyla University, Chicago, Prepared for
the ABA Lawyers' Conference Annual Meeting, Tuscon,
Arizona, May, 1997.
Do
It Yourselfers Make A Case For Self-Representation,
Washington Post, August 4, 1997.
The
Self-Service Center of Maricopa County, Arizona-
a model for courts
everywhere that want to provide support to
pro se litigants.
Evaluation of
Maryland Assisted Pro Se Project
Opinion of the
Attorney General of the State of Maryland Opinion No.
95-056 (December 19, 1995)
Concerning Whether Law Advocates Who Provide Services to
Victims of Domestic Violence Engage in the Unauthorized
Practice of Law
HALT- Americans
for Legal Reform leading advocate
organization for self-help law.
Nolo
Press- leading self-help law and
software publisher.
National
Federation of Paralegal Organizations-
the major paralegal professional organization.
Unauthorized
Practice of Law
ABA
Commission on NonLawyer Practice -
major field study on use of nonlawyers to deliver legal
services.
NFPA
Response to ABA Commission on NonLawyer Practice
CourtTV
Law Center - resource center for
consumers.
Counsel
Connect Web- resource center for
lawyers.
|
