Do-it -yourself law: access to justice and the challenge of self-representation

Introduction On 18 February 2008, in divorce proceedings in the High Court in London Ms Heather Mills (wife of Sir Paul McCartney, former model and TV personality) was awarded £24.3 million of Sir Paul McCartney’s fortune as compared with the £125 million that she originally claimed. During the six days of the High Court hearing Ms Mills represented herself. The parties wrangled over the extent of Sir Paul’s fortune, how much money Ms Mills had brought into the relationship and who had and hadn’t behaved unreasonably. At the end of the hearing, Mr Justice Bennett concluded that Sir Paul had been a truthful witness who had shown understandable signs of frustration during the course of the proceedings, while Ms Mills was prone to exaggeration and make-belief. He said: “The husband's evidence was, in my judgment, balanced. He expressed himself moderately though at times with justifiable irritation, if not anger. He was consistent, accurate and honest. But I regret to have to say I cannot say the same about the wife's evidence. Having watched and listened to her give evidence, having studied the documents, and having given in her favour every allowance for the enormous strain she must have been under (and in conducting her own case) I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid. Overall she was a less than impressive witness.”