Why do people represent themselves?What works and what doesn't for self-represented parties?And how can we improve Litigant in Person (LiP) experiences to make the civil justice system fairer?Based on in-depth interviews with individuals who have acted as Litigants in Person in the civil courts, the book provides the first full-length account of LiP experiences. The author shines a light on how much we don't know about LiPs, the civil justice system, and LiPs' place within it, as well as the kinds of things we ought to be doing to improve access to justice for unrepresented parties.Perfect for scholars of administrative justice, access to justice, court reform and legal aid, as well as government bodies and non-profit organisations, this book generates insight into meaningful methods of what works and what doesn't work for self-represented parties, based on the real-life experiences of LiPs.

IntroductionPart I: Before Litigation1. How the Law Sees the Litigant in Person2. From Bear Gardens to the County Court: Creating the Litigant in Person3. Who are Litigants in Person?Part II: During Litigation4. Being a Litigant in Person: Complexity, High Stakes, Vulnerability5. How To Be GoodPart III: After Litigation6. The Afterlife of Going to LawConclusion