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Executive Summary• Pro se litigants ofthe Housing and Probate and Family Courts ofMassachusetts have an average annualincome of $25,000. Housing Court pro se litigants earn one-third more ($33,000) than Family andProbate Court pro se litigants ($22,000).• The average age ofrespondents is 37. Pro se litigants ofthe Housing Courts are, on average, older (41)than those ofthe Probate and Family Courts (35).• A slight majority (58%) ofpro se litigants ofthe Probate and Family Courts are females, while there areslightly more (52%) men representing themselves in the Housing Courts.• Eighty-five percent ofpro se litigants have graduated from high school.• A majority (70%) ofpro se users ofthe courts are White.• English is the primary language of 89% ofrespondents, followed by Spanish (6%).• While pro se litigants expect a lawyer to charge them an average of $265 for their court session, theyare willing to pay an average of$100.• A majority (60%) ofHousing Court respondents are using the court for Summary Process matters. Thelargest percentage (25%) ofProbate and Family Court pro se users are involved in Divorce proceedings.• The most common reason cited by litigants (49%) for why they represent themselves in court is thatthey cannot afford a lawyer. Slightly fewer respondents (48%) said that they did not need a lawyer dueto the simplicity oftheir case.oThese reasons were among the top two cited regardless ofCourt location, type ofCourt, type oflitigation, or demographic variables.Prepared by STS Market Research Massachusetts Bar Association - Pro Se User of the Court Survey - August 1999 Page 2
Massachusetts Pro Se Litigant ProfilesA Typical Massachusetts Pro Se Litigant:• Earns $25,000 per year• White female; 37 years old• Expects to be charged $265 for legal representation; willing to pay $100A Typical Probate and Family Court Pro Se Litigant:• Earns $22,000 per year• White female; 35 years old• Using the court for Divorce mattersA Typical Housing Court Pro Se Litigant:• Earns $33,000 per year• White male; 41 years old• Using the court for Summary Process mattersPrepared by STS Market Research Massachusetts Bar Association - Pro Se User of the Court Survey - August 1999
Page 1 and 2: Massachusetts Bar AssociationPro Se
Page 3: Objective and MethodologyObjective
Page 8 and 9: Level of Education• Eighty-five p
Page 10 and 11: Racial Distribution11 0 / 0• The
Page 12 and 13: '1~Primary Languages ofPro Se Litig
Page 14 and 15: Gender of Pro Se Litigants: by Prob
Page 16 and 17: Gender of Pro Se Litigants: by Hous
Page 18 and 19: Lawyers' Fees: by Probate and Famil
Page 20 and 21: Lawyers' Fees: by Housing Court Lit
Page 22: Reasons for Self-representation•
Page 25 and 26: TABLE 1500MASSACHUSETTS BAR ASSOCIA
Page 27 and 28: TABLE 1300)MASSACHUSETTS BAR ASSOCI
Page 29 and 30: TABLE 1100 MASSACHUSETIS BAR ASSOCI
Page 31 and 32: TABLE 900 MASSACHUSETTS BAR ASSOCIA
Page 33 and 34: t;., ...TABLE 700 MASSACHUSETTS BAR
Page 35 and 36: \ \TABLE 500 MASSACHUSETIS BA\SSOCI
Page 37 and 38: ~. -,- j ", J I.. ··TABLE 300 MAS
Page 39 and 40: Table lOOCPage 21Comparison of affo
Page 41 and 42: HeWhy have you chosen to represent
Page 43: Table lOOAMASSACHUSETIS BAR ASSOCIA

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