Simon Shields, LLB

Advantages of Self-Representation

Regardless of the nature of a legal proceeding - it's commencement and conduct is a detailed and often intimidating process of paperwork, correspondence, obtaining and exchanging documentary evidence, pre-hearing attendences and hearings - and even formal trials. The lawyers or government employees on the other side work with those things everyday and are intimately familiar with those processes - while you are likely doing it for the first time - a clear imbalance of power against you. Yet hiring a lawyer privately can easily run you into thousands of dollars of legal fees for a matter that might only be worth a few thousand to start with. But that few thousand is important to you - and it is your right to have your case fully and fairly decided.

If you are prepared to take the case in hand: read, plan, prepare and stand up for yourself - you will be surprised at the results you can achieve. It's a little-known secret that lawyers actually hate it when the other side is unrepresented - they know that the courts or tribunal will almost always bend over backward to help an unrepresented party. If - on top of that - you show up 'having done your homework' you will be well on your way to levelling the playing field.