Thank you for joining the discussion.  I believe that pro se litigants will not go away by ignoring them or making the judicial system unresponsive.  I subscribe to the perspective presented in the recently released New Hampshire report on self-represented litigants.  See http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2004/02/09#a744 and click on our Access/Self Help resources page for other materials.

Thank you for joining the discussion.  I believe that pro se litigants will not go away by ignoring them or making the judicial system unresponsive.  I subscribe to the perspective presented in the recently released New Hampshire report on self-represented litigants.  See http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2004/02/09#a744 and click on our Access/Self Help resources page for other materials.

Is the goal to provide access to legal services (i.e. lawyers) or is the goal to allow for more self represented parties in our courts. Greater access to legal education and information makes for better and more sophisticated clients, and I submit that is all to the good. But allowing greater access to our courts in the absense of attorney presents many problems. I practice in Maine where in the District Court vast numbers of parties are handling their own divorces, civil litigation and even criminal matters. It’s a disaster.

Is the goal to provide access to legal services (i.e. lawyers) or is the goal to allow for more self represented parties in our courts. Greater access to legal education and information makes for better and more sophisticated clients, and I submit that is all to the good. But allowing greater access to our courts in the absense of attorney presents many problems. I practice in Maine where in the District Court vast numbers of parties are handling their own divorces, civil litigation and even criminal matters. It’s a disaster.