Acting for yourself?  Litigants In Person may find these pages useful.  This is one of the two main aims of the Legal eXchange.  Becoming a Legal eXchange Member may help you too.  Don't forget to Check out the LIP's Forum page here... and, whatever your case or reasons... Good Luck.

[Site Map] [Home] [Search] [Add Records] [Research] [Forums] [Pilot] [Join] [Login] [FAQ] [Links]

First, an apology... I really haven't had time to do this section anything like justice yet.  I still need to write and debug a number of scripts to get the basic "Calling Card" and email system into a usable state.  With regards to providing a first class resource for LIP's  I need all the help I can get... can you help?  Do you know anyone that can?  Any articles, suggestions, links to other resources out there in cyber-space?  lip@legalxchange.co.uk

Ok, for now I will just add a few notes and some links to sites that I have found useful...

H.M. Courts Services website provides LOTS of useful information from Forms and Guidance notes (these are great) to a large dataBase of precedents and judgements.  There's also a very useful (interactive) Court List which can help out with maps, directions, telephone and fax numbers.

The Judicial Studies Board provides the training notes for judges (which REALLY help in understanding and interpreting the Acts, Statutory Instruments etc.)  Check out the Civil Law Bench Book and the other Bench Books (see the "Most Visited Links" under "Publications") for a great para-phrasing of the Civil Proceedures Rules (CPR) and much general advice for Judges.

The Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has a wealth of information.  Check out the CPR (and the other Procedural Rules) here.  Note that the CPR is backed by Practice Directions and all are available here.  There's a LOT more to this website... use the dedicated search facilities to find what you need.

This seems useful general advice - http://www.elc.org.uk/pages/lawlips.htm and seems to be taken largely from here http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1343.htm (a more authorative site?)

CLS - Community Legal Services Direct has some good links (maybe?) and you can check out your legal aid status and more.

SWARB - a very useful site with (currently) over 2,300 pages of potentially useful information.  They also run some FORUMS which are probably a "must" for any serious LIP - ask questions and get some free advice - just be careful what you do with it ;-)

In a similar vein (possibly) to SWARB - http://www.venables.co.uk/individtopics.htm 

Costs - http://www.wigg.co.uk/1.htm 

A couple more ... http://www.bailii.org/databases.html#ew and http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/ and see the Research Page.

General Advice: Again brief... You're probably entitled to a free half hour solicitors time - try your local CAB (or the CLS site) for information.  You can probably blag a longer "free" appointment too, from most high-street practices - just pretend you are thinking of instructing them - immoral?  - If you're up against £150+ / hr "professionals" you might just get your £9.25/hr pittance... if you win... methinks they can afford a little charity work.  Keep meticulous records.  Know the Rules.  Prepare.  Read books (library? University Library?).  Be patient (the patience of a saint is usually required) .  Take a McKenzie friend along.  Research - use the WWW ... the ".uk" versions or select "Results from the UK" helps, as does understanding HOW to construct decent search phrases.  My own favourite is http://www.dogpile.co.uk - or use this...

Dogpile Search

Quick Padding? People represent themselves for many reasons.  For many there's no choice - they simply can't afford to pay a professional and Legal Aid has been cut.  Many people and small businesses successfully pursue small claims through the Courts in an economical and proportionate manner - you can even claim on-line these days.  Figures suggest that LIP's are on the increase.  A great deal of the "work" solicitors charge £100's / hr for is simple form filling...  but there are pitfalls.  Some things are not obvious and you probably need all the help you can get.  We hope to be able (eventually) to provide some really useful help, advice information and links.  This board is one tool.  Feel free to ask and answer questions, pass on your tips etc... and the very BEST of luck - being a LIP can be lonely (our Forum might help there) - but if you try you are certainly praise-worthy.  If you are also successful then you should be proud.

Once again, sorry for the brevity of this page... it should be MANY pages.  More soon... ASAP, in fact.  Feel free to drop me a line lip@legalxchange.co.uk

[Site Map] [Home] [Search] [Add Records] [Research] [Forums] [Pilot] [Join] [Login] [FAQ] [Links]