It Couldn't Happen to Me... Again?

Jumping Off the Ivory Tower with Prof JulieMac

Welcome to season 6! Our guest today is Jennifer Muller, who was the subject of our very first (and very popular) podcast episode, “It Couldn’t Happen to Me,” in September 2017, when she described running out of funds and being forced to represent herself in a custody trial in 2009. (https://representingyourselfcanada.com/it-couldnt-happen-to-me/) In conversation with Julie, Jennifer describes her experience of returning to court, ten years after she first represented herself. Jennifer agonized about returning, but eventually felt she had no choice but to deal with many unresolved co-parenting issues as her daughter grew up. Unable to face the idea of representing herself this time – as she tells Julie, she now knows what this entails – Jennifer took out a bank loan and hired legal counsel. At the time of this recording, Jennifer had spent $100,000. We ask: how is this a functional family justice system? Jennifer is a Schools Counsellor with the North Vancouver school district. She is an active advocate for access to justice. She is a member of the NSRLP Advisory Board, and the Executive Group of the Access to Justice BC initiative. In Other News: This episode features the welcome return of Ali Tejani as guest news correspondent! A former NSRLP research assistant, Ali is now with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney-General. There continue to be significant changes to courts across the country, with courts slowly adjusting to creating a more accessible process, for example by conducting virtual hearings, and being more accommodating to litigants; Ali provides some interesting examples and articles on the topic. In addition, Ali recaps some of NSRLP’s recent exciting news, including winning the prestigious Fodden Award! For related links and more on this episode visit our website: https://representingyourselfcanada.com/it-couldnt-happen-to-me-again/ Jumping Off the Ivory Tower is produced and hosted by Julie Macfarlane and Dayna Cornwall; production and editing by Brauntë Petric; Other News produced and hosted by Ali Tejani, with assistance from Katie Pfaff; promotion by Moya McAlister and the NSRLP team.