Table of Contents Civil Law Handbook for Self-Represented Litigants ................................................................. 1 1. Self-Represented Litigants’ Rights, Responsibilities & Supports ..................................... 2 1.1 Statement of Principles on SRLs ................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Right to Represent Yourself .......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Your Responsibilities ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Role of the Judge .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Communication ............................................................................................................................ 4 1.6 Resolving Your Case Without Going to Court ............................................................................... 5 1.7 Legal Assistance ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.8 Questions to Ask a Lawyer Worksheet ......................................................................................... 9 1.9 Appearing in Court Without a Lawyer ........................................................................................ 11 2. Legal Research ............................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Legislation ................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Applying the Law Worksheet ...................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Researching Case Law ................................................................................................................. 16 3. Building Your Case ...................................................................................................... 19 3.1 How to Build Your Case .............................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Case Building Worksheet ............................................................................................................ 22 4. Legal Writing .............................................................................................................. 23 4.1 The Basics.................................................................................................................................... 23 4.2 Affidavits ..................................................................................................................................... 26 5. Starting a Civil Court Case ........................................................................................... 30 5.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 30 5.2 Court Documents ........................................................................................................................ 30 5.3 Starting a Civil Claim ................................................................................................................... 31 5.4 Serving Documents ..................................................................................................................... 32 5.5 Responding to a Civil Claim ......................................................................................................... 32 5.6 Counterclaim .............................................................................................................................. 33 6. Disclosure / Discovery / Questions .............................................................................. 34 6.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 34 6.2 Disclosure .................................................................................................................................... 34 6.3 Written Discovery (Interrogatories) ........................................................................................... 35 6.4 Examination for Discovery / Questioning ................................................................................... 35 6.5 Use of Disclosure / Discovery ..................................................................................................... 37 6.6 Examination for Discovery Worksheet ....................................................................................... 39 i 7. Becoming Familiar with Court Processes ..................................................................... 40 7.1 The Courtroom ........................................................................................................................... 40 7.2 Behaviour in Court ...................................................................................................................... 41 7.3 Presentation Skills ....................................................................................................................... 43 7.4 Managing the Stress of Trial ....................................................................................................... 45 7.5 Before Court Checklist ................................................................................................................ 47 8. Pre-trial Court Appearances ........................................................................................ 48 8.1 Conferences ................................................................................................................................ 48 8.2 Applications / Motions ............................................................................................................... 49 9. Evidence ..................................................................................................................... 53 9.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 53 9.2 Evidence Inventory Worksheet .................................................................................................. 54 9.3 Types of Evidence ....................................................................................................................... 55 9.4 Documents .................................................................................................................................. 55 9.5 Oral Evidence .............................................................................................................................. 57 9.6 Testimony of Parties ................................................................................................................... 57 9.7 Witness Testimony ..................................................................................................................... 58 9.8 Evidence Worksheet ................................................................................................................... 62 9.9 Objecting to Evidence ................................................................................................................. 64 9.10 Hearsay ..................................................................................................................................... 64 10. Trial ............................................................................................................................ 66 10.1 Overview & Summary of Steps in a Trial .................................................................................. 66 10.2 Opening Statement ................................................................................................................... 67 10.3 Opening Statement Worksheet ................................................................................................ 69 10.4 Witnesses .................................................................................................................................. 70 10.5 Witness Worksheet................................................................................................................... 76 10.6 Closing Argument ..................................................................................................................... 77 10.7 Closing Argument Worksheet ................................................................................................... 78 10.8 Decision / Order / Judgement .................................................................................................. 79 11. Appeals ...................................................................................................................... 80 11.1 What is an Appeal? ................................................................................................................... 80 11.2 Process of Appealing ................................................................................................................. 81 11.3 At the Appeal Hearing .............................................................................................................