Designing support for litigants in person: Using human-centred design
Date
2025-02-25
Authors
McKeever, Gráinne
Royal-Dawson, Lucy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Since 2016, the Litigants in Person in Northern Ireland (LIPNI) research study has been exploring the experiences of litigants in person (LIPs) in civil and family cases in the jurisdiction, and developing supports for them. We defined LIPs as individuals who do not have legal representation in their court hearing.
Four main barriers prevent LIPs from participating in their legal proceedings: intellectual (not understanding the process), practical (not being able to access help or support), emotional (the process itself generating frustration, fear and anger) and attitudinal (being stereotyped as difficult to deal with).
Beyond understanding the litigation experience of LIPs, our other research aims were to explore whether the practical and attitudinal barriers could be overcome. We wanted to know whether creating support materials for LIPs through a co-productive process could generate changes in attitudes by and towards LIPs.
In two human-centred design processes we have worked with numerous stakeholders, including LIPs, to co-create two supports now in the public domain: a website containing information about conducting family cases; and a Charter aimed at improving the communication and relationships between a LIP and the solicitor for the other party in the same case.
Our presentation will offer an overview of our HCD processes, our approach to these as research questions, and our findings related to the power of HCD to bring about a change in perspective as well as valuable assets to support LIPs.
Description
Keywords
litigants in person, civil cases, family cases, barriers, support materials, human centred, legal design, participatory research, Northern Ireland