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Inventory of Reforms

Nova Scotia Self-Represented Litigants Project

Year:
2004

Description:
Department of Justice project to identify the greatest for self-represented litigants in Nova Scotia courts and to make recommendations to improve services and develop programs.

Status:
Several recommendations implemented

Jurisdiction:
Nova Scotia

Court:
All Nova Scotia Courts

Body Responsible:
Nova Scotia Department of Justice

Timeline:
March 2004: Needs Assessment including recommendations released

Publications:
Self-represented litigants in Nova Scotia : Needs assessment study
Self-represented litigants project
Nova Scotia Department of Justice. Court Services Division, 2005

Development:
The Self-Represented Litigants Project of the Court Services division of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice surveyed 40 judges, 163 court staff and 58 self-represented litigants (SRLs) to identify the greatest needs for courts and SRLs and to make recommendations to improve services and develop realistic programs for SRLs. The project team also observed 20 court hearings that involved the participation of one or more SRLs.

The interviews, focus groups and questionnaires used by the SRL project team confirmed expectations that SRLs are impacting in a significant way on the day to day administration of the courts, and often do not have sufficient knowledge to adequately represent themselves and may be disadvantaged by representing themselves.

Purpose:
An increasing number of litigants in our Nova Scotian courts are self-represented. Statistics from elsewhere in Canada, North America and other countries reflect this trend. The statistical information gives us reasons for this trend; the financial cost of engaging a lawyer, increasing non-eligibility for legal aid, the consumers’ movement, anti-lawyer sentiment, increased literacy, availability of do-it-yourself products, and the growth of non-lawyer practitioners.

Description of Reforms:
The Needs Assessment resulted in a number of recommendations, including: a) developing processes, tools, and training for court staff for dealing with self-represented litigants; and b) providing and promoting additional, accessible print and web-based information for self-represented litigants.

Implemented reforms included:

Revision History:
This summary was last reviewed in Apr 09, 2013