Thanks to Diane Grant from the CBC for providing the links to her documentary on CBC tonight.
The CBC article can be found here on the CBC website.
Links to CBC’s The National Documentary on Self-Represented Litigants
by OceanColleen | Dec 31, 2015 | Blog, Media | 7 comments
Just found the blog Denice. This is awesome.
Just found the blog Denice. This is awesome.
I saw the segment on the National last night – coaching or preparing (a workshop, for example) would’ve helped me significantly during my divorce of a few years ago – it was very unnerving and stressful to be in front of a case conference situation based on what I had read online. Hopefully that is over now but I will take a look at your book.
Where can I buy this book in Nanaimo?
Wonderful to see a national documentary that anyone can self represent their case with the legal justice system. Self representation is gut wrenching (literaly irital bowels) but empowering. I am thankful for Denice Barrie, a lawyer ‘ who cares’ her fee of $150/hr (a third of my first lawyer) helping me to file and serve my ex and his legal team several times obtaining in court, orders for disclosure of marital assets and family maintenance.Intially I had to hire outside my community because my ex was a local family lawyer and it was a conflict of interest for local lawyers to act for me causing me more lost time at work as well as travel costs for my lawyer and myself. Throughout this divorce ordeal I had contacted the Law Society of BC that lawyers and their spouses ought to be able to mediate under the umbrella of the Law Society. I felt intimidated and bullied by my ex’s professional knowledge of family law and his legal team so after 5 years settled for what he was willing to offer rather than fight for my full legal rights and his moral and legal responsibility to family. I am disappointed that lawyers profess to uphold the law as officers of the court and the Law Society does not govern the conduct of their members leaving spouses not being able to access their equal legal rights in Canada.
I need some help, guidance, having been a self-represented litigant for three years in two linked lawsuits. Just finished combined, binding JDR where one of the cases was basically brushed off. I felt intimidated by the justice who basically said if I argue my family matter, the plaintiff in civil matter would have her claim rise and mine would fall. My ex owes me $200,000+ with proof, including $24,000 for his child support payments. I was awarded $12,500.
I hired a lawyer finally, but feel she did not fight for my rights in the family matter. When I tried to argue about what I could prove I paid for, she signalled me to be quiet.
It was part of agreement that no appeal, but I feel bullied and intimidated into agreeing because of the justice’s warning.
My ex’s mother sued me for money he borrowed for our house. He lived in the house, not me, but I paid basically all the bills and mortgage interest.
Mr.Justice basically didn’t read the submission my lawyer gave him. One verifying fact was that he didn’t know I didn’t even live in the house.
How can I fight this, appeal this? Where’s the justice?
Wonderful to have this kind of documentary. Much needed in today’s world. Look forward to more like this. Thank you