This post was written by Sue Rice, former NSRLP Project Coordinator, current Creative Consultant, and “Continuing the Dialogue” Event Coordinator.
Every so often, a once in a lifetime opportunity actually happens twice.
The NSRLP’s “Opening the Dialogue” conference in May 2013 was the first event in the world of law that brought together legal professionals and self-represented litigants to discuss the state of the Canadian justice system.
“Our legal system is pretty brutal…like the old analogy, it is akin to two hungry wolves and a sheep having a meeting to decide what’s for dinner.”
At a time when this quote from a SRL was expressive of the feelings of so many self-reps, two worlds came together to have a conversation, and foster understanding. That event was a catalyst. (Read the 2013 Event Report here.)
The NSRLP grew out of “Opening the Dialogue”, and I was honoured to see that growth up close. The questions demanding answers in my mind during the 2013 Dialogue Event addressed the human side of the justice system. Was the win/lose outcome culture in family law necessary? How can we provide practical information and ensure its ease of availability? And ultimately, how do we communicate within the justice system with compassion and empathy?
Since then, NSRLP has spent a great deal of time seeking to answer those questions, and others, and forward the national conversation around self-representation in family and civil law. Now, 5 years later, the NSRLP is hosting “Continuing the Dialogue” this October, 2018, at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law. The excitement is building. Questions are again being raised, some old and some new. And SRLs, along with legal professionals, are ready to sit down together as equal stakeholders in the justice system to discuss what’s for dinner.
If you have received an invitation, please make sure to RSVP to Event Coordinator Sue Rice at suerice@live.ca to secure your seat at the table.