Season 2 Episode 1 (Bridging the Civil Justice Gap; Self-Represented Litigants)

The social topic to be discussed in Season 2 Episode 1 of the podcast is on Access to Justice and themed, “Bridging the Civil Justice Gap; Empowering Self-Represented Litigants”. Our experiences with clients have shown that the average Ghanaian finds it difficult to meet the economic demands that accompany legal services. Accordingly, self-representation is a common phenomenon in the Ghanaian judicial system, especially in the lower courts such as the District and Circuit Court. This is particularly disturbing due to the increased risk of unfavourable judicial outcomes, which is largely attributable to the limited legal knowledge and inadequate preparation of the litigants. This episode aims to explore the world of individuals who navigate the legal system without an attorney, particularly the reasons for their struggles; and the systems that are, or can be put in place, in order to enhance their access to justice and a fair and equitable judicial system.