Working with Self Represented Litigants

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association What is LawAccess? Free government telephone service that provides legal information, referrals and in some cases, advice for people who live in NSW or have a NSW legal problem. Established to assist people to find the legal help they need through one central contact number LAW Cost of a local call

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association What is LawAssist? A website to help people representing themselves in the Local Court A new service of LawAccess Funded by the Public Purpose Fund for three years Based on research about needs of self represented litigants, and self help legal services and websites in USA, Canada and UK Will be launched on 17 May 2010

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association Who is Lawassist for? Self represented litigants with good literacy and computer skills and access to a computer Relatives, friends, advocates of self represented litigants LawAccess Customer Service Officers Court staff Lawyers who are CLC volunteers or doing pro bono cases

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association Why LawAssist? Help people who are representing themselves in Local Court cases by choice or circumstance Practical focus on procedure and forms rather than legal advice Does not replace need for legal advice and representation Support and complement information and advice provided by LawAccess, courts, LAC, CLCs

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association LawAssist topics From launch date on 17 May 2010 Debt – small claims Guides for both creditors and debtors Later in 2010 and 2011 Motor vehicle accident property damage cases Guides for both plaintiffs and defendants Apprehended Violence Orders Guides for both complainants and defendants Guides for both ADVOs and APVOs Fines and traffic cases

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association LawAssist features Case studies Interactive guides Step by step guides Instructions for filling out forms Sample forms Checklists Practical information on locating and naming parties, calculating interest, costs orders and what to do, say and wear in court Later in 2010 – short videos of court appearances.

An initiative of the Department of Justice and Attorney General NSW, Legal Aid NSW, Law Society of NSW and NSW Bar Association We want your ideas and feedback LawAssist will grow and change and improve. Please let us know what you think – what works, what doesn’t. Use the survey in the feedback section of LawAssist, or contact Natalie Ross, Team Leader, LawAssist Ph and