Why eLitigant? Court Documents to a Professional Standard

By the eLitigant Editorial Team · Reviewed for current forms, fees & procedure · How we check our guides

Last reviewed: June 2026 · For use in England & Wales · eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm and does not give legal advice.

① Draft it from scratch

Chris drafts your statement of case, application notice, witness statement, skeleton argument or correspondence from your facts — to the Litigant Standard.

② Check the draft you’ve written

Already drafted something? Upload it. Chris reviews the heading, numbering, structure and references against what the court expects.

③ You’ve been served — respond

Received a letter, notice or claim? Run it by Chris against your own documents and see where you stand — in minutes.

In short: eLitigant helps litigants in person in England and Wales prepare civil court documents — statements of case, application notices, witness statements, skeleton arguments and correspondence — properly headed, numbered, formatted and CPR-referenced so a judge can read your case efficiently. Run by a Community Interest Company for access to justice, Chris drafts your document from your facts, professional, in minutes.

Why eLitigant? Preparing Court Documents That Meet a Professional Standard

The English civil courts have never been more accessible. The Online Civil Money Claims service lets you issue a money claim from a phone or laptop, with no upper limit on the value you can claim. Service of documents is handled electronically. Enforcement is faster and more efficient than at any point in modern legal history.

The infrastructure is genuinely excellent. The rules are clear. The process is logical. What remains challenging — for any litigant in person — is producing the documents, applications, and correspondence that meet a professional standard.

That is what eLitigant was built to address.

The Challenge Facing Litigants in Person

Every year, thousands of people in England and Wales represent themselves in civil proceedings. Some do so by choice. Many do so because the cost of legal representation is beyond their reach. Whatever the reason, they all face the same challenge: the quality of their paperwork matters.

Judges assess cases based on what is in front of them. A well-structured statement of case, properly formatted and correctly referencing the relevant Civil Procedure Rules, makes the court’s job easier. It helps the judge understand your position quickly. It demonstrates that you have engaged seriously with the process.

A poorly formatted document — missing paragraph numbers, without the correct court heading, with scattered references and no clear structure — does not mean your case is weak. But it does make it harder for the court to assess its merits.

The gap is not knowledge. Most litigants in person understand their own case better than anyone. The gap is presentation — knowing how to translate what you know into the format the court requires.

What Is the Litigant Standard?

The Litigant Standard is the benchmark eLitigant sets for every document produced through the platform. The goal is straightforward: every statement of case, every application notice, every witness statement should be prepared to a professional, elite standard.

In practice, this means:

Correct court heading block: Court name, division, claim number, parties, and document title — formatted to the standard set out in Practice Direction 5A and the Chancery Guide
Sequential paragraph numbering: Running continuously through the entire document, with sub-paragraphs in (a)(b)(c) format — as the court requires
Proper formatting: Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, justified text, 3.5cm left margin for binding — the conventions that every court expects
Accurate CPR references: Every procedural point supported by the correct rule, practice direction, or protocol — verified, not assumed
Clear structure: Introduction, background, legal basis, relief sought — the framework that helps judges process applications efficiently

When a judge reads documents prepared to the Litigant Standard, they see papers that respect the court’s time and assist the administration of justice. That is the standard every litigant deserves to meet.

How the Civil Courts Work for Litigants in Person

If you have never filed a claim before, the process is more approachable than most people expect. Here is how a typical money claim proceeds:

Pre-Action Protocol: Before issuing a claim, you are expected to write to the other party setting out your complaint and what you want.
Filing the claim: For claims for a specified amount of money, the Online Civil Money Claims service allows you to file online — there is no upper limit on the value you can issue.
Acknowledgement and Defence: The defendant has 14 days to acknowledge service, then a further 14 days to file a defence.
Directions: If the claim is defended, the court allocates it to a track and issues directions.
Hearing: The case is heard before a judge.
Enforcement: If you win but the other side does not pay, enforcement options include warrants of control, attachment of earnings, charging orders, and third-party debt orders.

At every stage, the quality of your documents influences how your case is perceived. Courts are neutral. Judges apply the law. But well-prepared papers make the court’s task easier — and that benefits everyone.

Why Document Quality Matters

The Civil Procedure Rules exist for a reason: to ensure that cases are dealt with justly, at proportionate cost, and with appropriate allocation of the court’s resources. Rule 1.1 — the overriding objective — applies to every participant in the process, including litigants in person.

When your documents meet a professional standard:

Judges can assess your case efficiently — clear structure and proper referencing mean less time spent deciphering your position
Procedural errors are avoided — incorrect forms, missed deadlines, and formatting issues can delay proceedings
Your arguments are taken seriously — a well-drafted skeleton argument demonstrates engagement with the law
The court’s time is respected — concise, properly structured documents assist the administration of justice

This is not about gaming the system or impressing anyone. It is about ensuring that the merits of your case are heard on their own terms.

What eLitigant Offers

eLitigant is built around Chris — a legal document assistant available around the clock. Chris helps litigants in person with:

Document drafting: Statements of case, witness statements, application notices, skeleton arguments, and correspondence — all formatted to the Litigant Standard
Court procedure guidance: Step-by-step explanation of CPR rules, practice directions, and court processes relevant to your case
Claims intake: A guided process for starting a new claim, gathering the right information from the outset
Case strategy: Analysis of your position, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and practical advice on next steps
Legal research: Real-time search for current case law, legislation, and procedural updates relevant to your matter

Chris is not a solicitor. eLitigant does not provide legal advice. What we provide is expert assistance in preparing documents prepared to a professional, elite standard — so that your case is heard on equal terms.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>justice.gov.uk

The tools exist. The rules are public. What many litigants need is help translating their case into the format the system requires. That is the gap eLitigant fills.

A Community Interest Company

eLitigant is a Community Interest Company — a social enterprise whose purpose is defined by its mission, not by profit maximisation. Our mission is access to justice.

Every document prepared through eLitigant is the litigant’s own work. We help you prepare it. You sign it, file it, and stand behind it. The court sees your case, presented to the standard it expects.

The Express Document tier gives you 30 days of expert document preparation, guidance, and support. No appointments to book. No waiting lists. Available when you need it.

Because access to justice should not depend on whether you can afford a solicitor. It should depend on the merits of your case and the quality of your preparation.

Key Points to Remember

The civil courts in England and Wales are more accessible than ever
Document quality matters — well-prepared papers help the court assess your case efficiently
The Litigant Standard sets the benchmark — every document is prepared to a professional, elite standard
eLitigant is a Community Interest Company — our mission is access to justice
Chris is available around the clock — no appointments, no waiting lists
30 days of document preparation and procedural support

Draft my Document →

eLitigant is a Community Interest Company. Our mission is access to justice, not profit maximisation.

This guide was last updated in February 2026 and reflects the law and procedure in England and Wales.

Related Guides

Frequently asked questions

Can I really represent myself in a civil court?

Yes. Under the Litigants in Person (Rights of Audience) Order 1999 you have an absolute right to represent yourself in any civil court in England and Wales. Thousands of people do so every year — some by choice, many because legal representation is beyond their reach.

What is the Litigant Standard?

The Litigant Standard is eLitigant’s benchmark for document quality. Every document aims to meet the formatting, structure and referencing standards set out in the CPR Practice Directions and court guides — the correct court heading, sequential paragraph numbering, proper formatting and accurate procedural references — so it is prepared to a professional, elite standard.

Why does document quality matter?

Judges assess cases on what is in front of them. A well-structured, properly formatted and correctly referenced document helps the court understand your position quickly and demonstrates serious engagement with the process. A poorly formatted document does not mean your case is weak, but it makes it harder for the court to assess its merits. The gap for most litigants in person is presentation, not knowledge.

What types of cases can eLitigant help with?

eLitigant is designed for civil litigation in England and Wales — money claims, consumer disputes, contractual disputes, property disputes, employment-related civil claims, clinical negligence and enforcement proceedings.

Does eLitigant replace a solicitor?

No. eLitigant provides document preparation assistance, not legal advice. Chris is not a solicitor. For complex matters you should consider instructing a solicitor. Every document prepared through eLitigant is your own work — you sign it, file it and stand behind it.

What is the Online Civil Money Claims service?

The OCMC (Online Civil Money Claims) service lets you file a money claim online, with no upper limit on the value you can issue. eLitigant can help you prepare the documents and correspondence that accompany a claim to a professional standard.

Have your papers prepared to a professional standard