Coaching
Using the principals of Assisted Self-Representation (ASR) , the Waymark goal and motto is Guiding You to Justice.
Guidebook
Denice Barrie’s easy to read book Journey to Justice A Practical Guide to Effectively Representing Yourself in Court will take you from chaos to convincing one waymark at a time.
Workshops
Waymark Law is excited to offer Two Day Workshops to help those interested in representing themselves in court.
Meet The Waymark Law Team
Denice Barrie
Access to justice has been the focus of her practice throughout a career which has ranged from representing injured workers to Supreme Court family litigation.
Clodagh O’Connell
Barrister & Solicitor
Clodagh continues to run her own practice, assisting clients in the areas of human rights, mental health law and civil sexual assault. As a Waymark lawyer she provides assisted self-representation on family and civil law matters.
Recent Posts
Waymark Law Client Talks about Representing Herself in Court
This Self-Represented Litigant had 10 days to prepare for a trial that lasted 16 in the Supreme Court of British Columbia with an experienced lawyer on the other side. She managed to save her house, and her dignity, in the process.
read moreThank you again, Denice, for your clear sighted vision and great advice. Keep up the important work.
I tried contacting several legal firms but simply could not afford the cost. After several meetings and false starts, I came across an article in the Globe and Mail about Denice Barrie. I called Denice and couldn't believe my ears when she said it all sounded fairly...
read more
Overcoming resistance to limited representation
In it's Featured Article on page 11, Bencher's Bulletin interviews Denice Barrie as a lawyer who has built a practice around providing 'unbundled' legal services. Nanaimo lawyer Denice Barrie can attest that, in some circumstances, a few hours of advice and coaching...
read moreWhat Our Clients Are Saying
Denice provided context and perspective to help me make the best decisions and she let me choose a course of action that was aligned with my personal values.
John H.Waymark will help you get there. They take an overwhelming process and break it down into manageable pieces.
Carol W.What the Media is Saying
Barrie has clearly developed a passion for the idea of addressing access to justice through assisted self-representation and notes it fits well with the notion of giving clients more control over their cases.
Glenn KauthFor a growing number of people, the cost to hire a lawyer poses a dilemma: the need for justice, versus the risk of losing a case after spending thousands on legal bills. Barrie provides basic legal tools to help self-represented litigants succeed in court, at an affordable cost.
Darrell BellaartFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer?
Not necessarily. With some hard work, it is possible to manage your own case and reach an outcome as good as if you had been represented by a lawyer.
How much will it cost?
That’s a tough question, because it depends on so many factors, like the level of court you’re at (in the Supreme Court of BC, for example, it usually costs to file documents) and whether or not you actually get as far as a trial. In terms of the coaching and support you can get through Waymark Law, one hour of Basic Service costs $150.00 and usually, from start to finish, you can count on 10 hours total.
Will the judge treat me differently?
Judges are learning to work with the Self Represented Litigants who are appearing before them more and more often. Although you can’t expect any special treatment, as long as you come to court organized and act respectfully, most judges will understand if you need a little more time to get through the process.
Do I need to speak legalese?
No, and you shouldn’t even try. You can explain yourself using storytelling, short sentences and common words to effectively prepare and present your case.
Great Reviews for the Guidebook Journey to Justice!
The more litigants understand about the trial process, the closer we come to access to justice.
Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, P.C“Journey to Justice” : important new resource for SRLs (and their lawyer coaches)
The National Self-Represented Litigants ProjectContact Us
Drop us a line anytime, and we will respond to you as soon as possible