Why this blog?

Stoke Newington is the ancestral home of dissidents, pamphleteers and activists – and Stoke Newington Chambers is a virtual room where you can read straight information about how the law works in real life.

When I first started blogging, I thought I’d try to assist law students with their studies. While I still teach law and like to blog about general legal topics, I’ve noticed that most law blogs are aimed at other lawyers: only a handful of blogs are aimed at making the law more accessible to people in trouble. And, I’ve also noticed, there seem to be more and more people in trouble these days.

So I’ve started blogging again to fill a gap – and because I’m cheesed off so many people seem to be cut adrift from legal help. Where people used to turn to Legal Aid for help with debt matters, contract disputes and landlord & tenant problems, they’re finding they’re not eligible for help and can’t afford to pay a lawyer. The number of county court Litigants in Person has grown exponentially- just in the past year.

The trouble is, many LiPs don’t know where to start – and only a few will be able to effectively present their cases at court without the help of a qualified lawyer. I don’t service my own car – because even with a manual, I’d be lost. Yet somehow, people are expected to become DIY lawyers and get to grips with law and civil procedure – in an emergency.

I can’t give legal advice in a blog – but I can pass on some of my experience, in a general way, of what may help a lay person better run their own claim or defence.

Please feel free to join in and share your experience.

All of the “DIY Law” posts can also be found by clicking the above tab.