With more than half of civil cases in many courts involving at least one self-represented party, pro se appearances are now the norm rather than the exception. This panel examines how to navigate these cases effectively — balancing efficiency with fairness, preserving due process, and avoiding the pitfalls of lay practice while ensuring that all parties are heard.
Learning Objectives:
- Attendees will identify the unique procedural and practical challenges presented by self-represented litigants in bankruptcy and other civil proceedings.
- Attendees will analyze strategies for balancing judicial efficiency, fairness and due process when managing cases involving pro se parties.
- Attendees will apply best practices for communicating with self-represented litigants, addressing lay-practice issues and maintaining the integrity of the judicial process while ensuring all parties are heard.