A litigant in person (someone representing themselves) should not be held to the standards of a lawyer. However, in this recent case, this does not mean that they get a free pass when it comes to the risk of being ordered to pay costs.
A total of three Employment Judges told her that her claims were not adequately particularised. Despite a number of earlier hearings at which detailed particulars were sought, her continued inability to provide proper particulars amounted to unreasonable conduct which justified a costs award against her. The Judge specifically considered whether her inability to particularise her case was caused by stress, anxiety or illness, and decided it was not.