This week we have reviewed the various phases in litigation, alternatives to litigation, and general guidelines on how to represent yourself pro se in litigation.

For this assignment, please reflect on what you've learned about the legal system and how it could be better.Please write a three paragraph essay in the following format.In the first paragraph, please explain generally the phases of litigation up to and including trial.In the second paragraph, please discuss your impressions after reading the Pro Se Guide in this week's reading .Finally, in the third paragraph, please share 1-2 ideas on how the legal system could be improved with regard to access to justice.

One very significant fact of litigation is the attorneys fees and costs.Hiring lawyers can be very expensive.The hourly rates for lawyers in Seattle range from $250-550 and can go even higher.The costs for filing fees, depositions, expert witness fees, transcripts and other costs are $20,000 minimum in a case that goes to trial.When I worked on the defense side, I routinely prepared budgets for clients and our estimated attorneys fees and costs to litigate a case to trial was $650,000 to $800,000.The costs of litigation are incentive to engage in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), but what if it is not an option for you?Many plaintiff's lawyers, like myself, charge attorneys fees on a contingency basis.This means that I only get paid if my client receives a settlement or judgment, and my attorneys fees are 24%-40% of the proceeds depending on what phase the case is in when it settles.What this means is that many plaintiff's lawyers will not take cases with low damages even if liability is clear.Without pro bono lawyers, those plaintiff's may not have access to justice on meritorious claims.Access to justice becomes a major concern when only wealthy individuals or large corporations are able to pursue their legal rights.

Another concern with access to justice is bias among judges, lawyers and juries against African-Americans and Black people and other minority groups.In June 2020, the Washington State Supreme Court issued an open letter (link(Links to an external site.)

) calling on members of the judicial system to eradicate racism in the justice system.I have experienced bias against myself in the courtroom as an Asian-American lawyer and I have seen my clients be treated differently because of their race or ethnicity.What is most upsetting is when I represent a client who brings claims of racial discrimination to the justice system only to be discriminated against (again!) by the judge deciding her case.