Also known as: litigant in person, self-represented party
In plain English
Someone who runs their own court or tribunal case without a lawyer.
What it means
A self-represented litigant (also called a litigant in person) is a party who conducts their own case without a solicitor or barrister. This is common in tribunals and smaller civil claims, where procedures are designed to be more accessible. Courts give self-represented litigants some assistance with procedure to ensure a fair hearing, but cannot act as their advocate or give legal advice, and they are still expected to follow the rules.
How it's used
As a self-represented litigant, Sam prepared his own affidavit and presented his evidence to the magistrate.
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