The Self-Represented Litigation Network has completed its Working Paper titled Towards Simplification.

The document, more a road-map than a proposal, outlines seven principles for simplification, six approaches, four barriers and political issues, and nine possible strategies.  The document is here.  Also available as a link here on www.selfhelpsupport.org.

To give a sense of its flavor, here is a list of the outcomes that can help a simplification project be viewed as a success:

• Less time start to finish
• Less participant time (total hours) required
• Less steps in the process
• Fewer documents or materials required
• Less information gathered
• Greater ease of submission of information
• Fewer individuals/parties involved
• Information provided by those able to provide it
• Steps required to be taken more by those able to (including court)
• Less resources needed to assist people to obtain access (i.e shifting the triage formula away from the need for counsel)

I am starting work for the Symposium Issue of Drake Law Review on an article on Simplification, based in part on ideas gathered during the drafting of this Working Paper, and would welcome any additional thoughts.