"A survey of family law lawyers in Alberta (Bertrand, Paetsch, Bala & Birnbaum, 2012) found that lawyers considered settlement without trial to be substantially less likely when a party is self-represented, and that outcomes regarding plans for children and economic issues are worse for self-represented parties than for individuals with counsel. The authors recommended that: Further research is needed to determine the extent to which these perceptions are shared by others in the justice system; Further research is needed on means of addressing the challenges posed by the increasing number of self-represented litigants; Any further research should examine these challenges from the perspective of all groups involved in the justice system, including lawyers, judges, and the litigants themselves. The present project attempts to address some of these recommendations by examining the issue of self-represented litigants from the perspective of the judges of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the province's superior trial court"--