Going it alone

Litigants in person are an ever-increasing element of our justice system. The increase in their number has been driven by the poor state of the economy, which has amplified two related issues: individuals being more likely to need access to justice (for example with matrimonial problems, debt problems), and those individuals not being able to afford a solicitor to represent them in relation to those problems.

This increase in the number of litigants in person comes at a time when the Courts Service has absorbed cuts to its budget by removing court staff, whose role previously had included the provision of basic information to litigants in person.

Lord Dyson, a Supreme Court Judge, interviewed by The Guardian, said that the appearance of more litigants in person was a big concern (25 October 2011). He said: “There are some very good litigants in person but there are an awful lot