Self-representation dilemma 1 Those who attempt to litigate for themselves face obstacles in our court system

As might be expected, the most consistently provided reason for going it alone in court relates to affordability issues. Lawyers are too expensive and many can’t afford to retain a lawyer. That’s not surprising with hourly rates often $350 and up. Retainers of $5,000 and up are not uncommon. But more disheartening is the dissatisfaction about the quality of services rendered by lawyers.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/07/self-representation-dilemma

February 11, 2014 by drjuliemacfarlane

“I think I would tell them this is a system that has worked for 200 years and I believe that it is the best system that we could have.”

At a provincial bar association conference last summer, I challenged a group of lawyers about how might we talk to the public about the access to justice crisis.

 Why is Acknowledging and Talking about the A2J Problem with the Public So Hard?

Access to justice: Help coming for people headed to Canada's civil and family courts

Lawyers For Shared Parenting

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY ONE OF US - LET"S GET BEHIND AMY AND HELP!!!

I Might Go To Jail For This, But Have Little Choice (Lawyer Needed)

by Amy MacPherson 

Dearest lawyer friends, I'm so sorry to do this to you. I tried to keep things private but I can't any longer. This story is complex and I won't intro too much, because I desperately need you to read it. The highlights are politics, debauchery, the Charter and access to (criminal + civil) justice. We need help so badly. It's nearly the 11th hour and all my attempts have been unsuccessful. Money has been the death knell, but there is money if you just read far enough. You'll also need to digest the whole thing to understand the many aspects at play. From the bottom of my heart, please. Even if it's the spirit of Christmas that causes you to read along. I don't know what to do anymore. Everyone we've canvassed has declined now, for reasons that span from expertise to politics to sizable retainer. I'm putting my own safety on the line, just to get this to enough people in the legal field. Thank you for your time, very much.

http://amymacpherson.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/i-might-go-to-jail-for-this-but-have-little-choice-lawyer-needed/

Closed courtrooms only protect bad judges and lawyers, says Judge Judy

AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS judge has told a former Minister for Justice that Ireland should have cameras in every courtroom.

Speaking to Nora Owen on TV3′s Midweek, Judge Judy said closed courtrooms protect two things – bad judges and bad lawyers.

“They also protect bad institutions that serve those courts, such as social services,” she continued. “They should be there as the norm. If you have a specific exclusion, then you make it.”

http://www.thejournal.ie/closed-courtrooms-only-protect-bad-judges-and-laywers-says-judge-judy-863648-Apr2013/

Bill aims to revolutionize custody in divorce cases

The legislation is based on recommendations of two government-appointed public committees that examined how to update custody regulations and bring them in line with United Nations conventions on children’s rights. One of the committees, appointed by Tzipi Livni in her first term as justice minister, dealt with the responsibility of divorced parents to their children.......

“The bill is intended to guarantee the good of every girl and boy by ensuring that their parents maintain their rights,” Kol (Yesh Atid) wrote in the bill. “According to the UN, children have rights independent of their parents and rights to their parents.”

To that end, the bill would make the courts take into account societal changes over the past decades that have equalized parenting roles of mothers and fathers. The bill would replace regulations that have been in place since 1962 that have not been updated since then..........


“This situation resulted in children in most cases gradually losing their connection with their father who did not have custody,” Kol wrote. “The tender years clause violates the UN decision that requires countries to guarantee the recognition of both parents’ responsibility to raise the children, rather than have one of them be the primary parent.”.......



The bill would end the practice of granting custody to one parent and separately deciding how much time the children will spend with each parent........

http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Bill-aims-to-revolutionize-custody-in-divorce-cases-333114

Legal help beyond the financial reach of many Ontario residents

Legal help beyond the financial reach of many Ontario residents

Ontario’s clogged family courts are filled with non-lawyers representing themselves, and it’s not because they fancy they’re modern-day Perry Masons. It’s because, more and more, legal help is beyond the financial reach of Ontarians. Justice reporter Jane Sims reports.

http://www.lfpress.com/2013/10/25/legal-help-beyond-the-financial-reach-of-man-ontarian-residents