The judge’s duty to advise and assist a self-represented litigant in civil proceedings

In Trkulja v Markovic, the Victorian Court of Appeal summarised the principles relating to the judge’s duty to provide advice and assistance to a self-represented litigant in civil proceedings. In that case, complaints were made that the trial judge had not given appropriate advice and assistance to one of the litigants in circumstances where both parties to the litigation had been self-represented. The Court of Appeal, however, held that the criticism of the trial judge was without foundation. Read about the case here.