Working with Self-Represented Litigants: Duties, Realities and Practical Strategies

This timely and practical program tackles one of the most pressing realities in today’s courts: the growing presence of self-represented litigants. 

 In a discussion moderated by Sophia Dales (McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP), Justice Stanley Sherr of the Ontario Court of Justice, Professor Jennifer Leitch, Executive Director of the National Self-Represented Litigants Project, civil litigator Katherine Di Tomaso (Stieber Berlach) and family lawyer Andrew Vankoughnett (Stanchieri Family Law) will offer insights into what courts expect, how professional obligations are evolving and what lawyers can do to manage these challenging files effectively.  

Discussion topics will include:

• Current trends and drivers behind the rise in self-representation, including cost and AI tools
• Court expectations of counsel when the opposing party is self-represented
• Ethical and professional duties to self-represented litigants and the court
• Common challenges including communication, procedural inefficiency, maintaining cost efficiency
• Practical strategies to address challenges – what works and what does not