If you are going to court, you may be represented by a lawyer, but it is not required. Around half of individuals who go to court in BC do not have a lawyer. They represent themselves. The term “Self-Represented Litigant” describes people who go to court without a lawyer.

We suggest that everyone meet with a lawyer at least once. Self-representing litigants would find it useful consult with a lawyer to gain expert guidance on how to proceed with their case.

Starting a court process does not mean that you will end up going to trial. Most cases will settle before they reach trial. All complex negotiations involve some give and take by both parties. Keep an open mind and consider options for coming to an agreement.

If you’re able to settle out of court, you’ll save time and money. Plus, you will avoid a great deal of stress. Going to court will help to resolve the differences between you and the other side. But it’s a tool that should be used as a last resort.

Here’s what to expect when going to court:

• Time Consuming- You will not be able to make an application one day and get an order the next day. Expect to come to court multiple times. The more complex and adversarial your case is the more time you will spend in court.
• Emotional – The court process can get very adversarial and is emotionally draining. Managing your emotions will be key to getting through the court process.
• Stressful – You will feel frustrated and strained at times, so remember to take time to de-stress.  It’s important to taking care of yourself by eating healthy, getting rest, being active and having a support network.
• Different Judge – it is unlikely that you will be before the same judge every time you go to court. Unless you seize a judge, there’s no way to be sure the judge that heard you last time will be the one that hears you this time. If there’s a new judge, don’t expect them to know everything about your case, they may need a summary of your case so far.
• Judge’s Questions- A judge will ask you specific questions to get a better understanding of your case. Try to answer as best you can.

Before you start filing court forms and going to court, you need to figure out what your case is about. To do this, you’ll need to learn a few basic legal skills. You need to know how to conduct legal research and how to organize your evidence. You need to understand parts of the law and how the law applies to the facts of your case.

Last reviewed: March 2016