Self-represented litigants Archives

Representing yourself in court is a daunting task. This issue of LawNow offers some suggestions for success.

Self-Represented Litigants have Mountains to Climb!
Owen Le Blanc
Self-Represented litigants present a host of challenges to some of the core assumptions of our legal system.

Your Self-Representation Road Map: Five Steps to Success
Devlin Farmer
Representing yourself can be hard work. Here is some practical advice about how to get through it.

Hurdles for Self-Represented Litigants in Small Claims Court
Amer Mushtaq
Small Claims Court seems ideal for claimants to represent themselves, but there are still rules and procedures to follow.
Being Self-Represented can be Taxing!
Owen Le Blanc
Canadians can represent themselves in Tax Court and some help is available.
Representing Yourself at the Alberta Appeals Commission for Worker’s Compensation
Lynn Parish
There is help available for self-represented injured workers to guide them through the appeals process.
The Law of Costs and the Cost of Law
Peter Bowal and John Rollet
Even if you choose to represent yourself in court, you should be aware of some of the expenses involved.

Journalists Feel the Chill in a Changing Media World
John Cooper
Libel chill in today’s media can mean that important and controversial stories may not be told.
Freedom of Expression, Publication Bans and the Media
Linda McKay-Panos
Publication bans balance freedom of expression and freedom of the press against the public’s right to know about judicial proceedings.
Kent v. Postmedia: The Largest Individual Defamation Award Given in Alberta
Kent Jesse
Defamation cases rarely go to trial in Alberta and even more rarely is the Plaintiff granted substantial damages. Arthur Kent changed that.
Bieber and Beachclub: What is Defamation in the Social Media Era?
Matt Gordon
In pop culture and the law, social media is everywhere. A careless tweet can amount to defamation.

Benchpress
Teresa Mitchell

Family Law
Sarah Dargatz
Obtaining Evidence in High Conflict Parenting Disputes – Part 1: Lawyers for Children
Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
Gender Equality in Canadian Politics
Debtor and Creditor Law
Doug Hoyes
Divorce and Bankruptcy Law in Canada
Landlord and Tenant Law
Judy Feng
Having Problems with another Tenant?
Employment Law
Peter Bowal and Lora Walsh
Legal Remedies at the Human Rights Commission
Not-for-Profit Law
Peter Broder
Prevention and Relief of Poverty
Criminal Law
Melody Izadi
No Warrant to Swab Your Genitals? No Problem!
Famous Cases
Peter Bowal and Mark Kelndorfer
Whatever happened to…. R. v Oakes?
Law and Literature
Rob Normey
The Extraordinary Criminal at the Heart of The Man Without Qualities

Canada’s top court is a cornerstone of our Parliamentary democracy and the Rule of Law. It has shaped our nation since 1875.

Democratic Governance: The Constitution and Canada’s Branches of Government
Lorraine Snyder and Dustin Martin
In order to understand the role of Canada’s top court, it is necessary to understand how it fits within our Constitution.

The Supreme Court of Canada: A History
Hugo Vaillancourt
Canada’s top court has seen many changes since it was first created in 1875.

Judicial Review is Different from Judicial Activism
Charles Davison
Our judges have a duty to review the legitimacy of laws and strike them down if they are contrary to the Constitution.
The Nadon Reference: A Unique Challenge
John Edmond
The recent Reference re Supreme Court Act concerning nominated Justice Marc Nadon was unprecedented in Canadian judicial history.
Top Courts in the U.S. and Canada: A Comparison
Peter Bowal and Jacqueline Bowal

Our top courts reflect each country’s cultural and political differences as our comprehensive chart outlines.

What Self–Represented Litigants (Actually) Want
Sarah Burton
Here’s a novel idea: why don’t we ask self-represented litigants what would actually help them!
Small Claims Court: A Venue Made for Self-Represented Litigants
Peter Bowal and Jacqueline Bowal
This court is specifically set up to assist people who want to represent themselves.
The Vexatious Litigant
Trevor Todd and Judith Milliken, QC
Sometimes, self-represented litigants can abuse or misuse the court system so that sanctions are necessary.

LawNow 39-6: The Top Court, Self-Represented Litigants