Represent Yourself in Court FAQ

Questions:

• Is it ever sensible to appear in court without a lawyer?
• Can I learn everything I need to know to represent myself in court?
• Is it difficult to prepare the paperwork to initiate a lawsuit?
• I've filed my lawsuit. What do I need to do next?
• What are the stages of a typical trial?
• How do I question witnesses in court?
• When my case finally makes it to the courtroom, I'm afraid I won't know what to say, when to say it, or even where to stand. How can I learn what to do?
• When do I have a right to have my civil case heard by a jury?

Answer:

Can I learn everything I need to know to represent myself in court?

The basics of how to bring or defend a case aren't difficult, but trying to get on top of every nuance of procedure and strategy isn't easy. That's why Nolo suggests a two-pronged approach: learn how to handle routine representation tasks yourself while hiring a lawyer as a self-help law coach to provide advice on strategy and tactics as needed. In many situations, hiring a lawyer to coach your self-help efforts will cost only about 10-20% of what it would cost to hire the lawyer to do the entire job.

Ten years ago, trying to find a lawyer who would help you find your own way through the legal system was next to impossible. Today, given the surplus of lawyers and a gradual change in the profession's attitude towards self-helpers, it's much easier. Because law is an increasingly specialized field, however, you'll want to find someone who is knowledgeable about your type of problem -- not just any lawyer. For more information, see Nolo's article Hiring a Lawyer as a Coach.