Introduction
While it is well established that companies must instruct legal
representatives for the purpose of representing the company in
proceedings,1 an individual may represent themselves
(essentially on a litigant in person/lay litigant basis) if they do
not formally instruct a legal representative. A recent
case2) has addressed the extent to which a party who has
not instructed a practising lawyer may be assisted by another
person in the presentation of his or her case. Although the
decision is not novel, it is a useful restatement of some general
principles regarding legal representation in proceedings before the
Irish courts.
Background
The plaintiff applied to the High Court for permission for
another individual (Mr O'Donoghue, a former solicitor) to have
full rights of representation to represent him in an application by
the first named defendant to strike out the proceedings and to
vacate a lis pendens registered over property owned by the
first
