If you are not in your courtroom at the time your case is called it can be dismissed or move forward without you. Although you are not a lawyer, you are representing yourself and you want to look and act the part. You do not need to buy new clothing, but make sure to dress professionally.
Also, make sure all devices, such as cell phones, are turned off. Court officials may take these items if they ring during a hearing. In addition, you should only bring into the courtroom people needed for your case. Others can distract you during the hearing and may cause disruption. You will be given time to speak and present your case. If you are unsure, contact the Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator for guidance.
If a timetable has been set, you may have a deadline for when you need to do things such as file documents. A timetable set by the Court is a Court order — you must comply with it. You can expect a decision within weeks or months of the final hearing, depending on the complexity of the case. How do I represent myself in Court?
Does the Court provide legal advice? What does it mean to represent myself in Court and where can I find information? Who can help me prepare my case? Should I get legal advice before I start an application? How do I prepare for my hearing in Court? Do I need to bring any documents to my hearing? Will I need to speak in Court? What are costs and if I lose my case, will I have to pay the costs of the other party? Can I bring someone to Court with me? What do I wear to Court?
What do I do if I cannot come to Court at the listed time? What can I expect on the day of my hearing in Court? What time should I arrive?
Where do I go when I arrive at Court? Where do I sit in the courtroom? How long will my hearing take? How long does a directions hearing take? Who else will be in the courtroom? How do I address the judge? What do I need to know about how to act in the courtroom?
What happens during the hearing? Can I speak directly to the other party during the hearing? What do I need to do aft e r the hearing? When average citizens use the courts, they assert their rights to constitutional due process.
So even when you lose, we all win. You're capable of representing yourself. There is a notable imbalance between the chance of losing for a pro se litigant and equally high chance of winning for lawyers fighting non-lawyers in court.
However, if you can do the necessary research and comprehend cases and statutes, you have a much better chance of effective self-representation. It's better than staying home. Fighting back puts you in a stronger position than rolling over. Too, it could make you more self-assured. Given that the deck is often stacked in favor of the legal system, courts, lawyers and judges — not you — you should be fighting mad and self-assured.
You're likely to work much harder for yourself than an attorney will. No one cares more about your case than you. When you represent yourself, you do the research, you drive to the courthouse, you write and file documents, you pay for parking, and you attend hearings.
Your attorney may spend four hours a week on your case. You might spend ten. With the extra time, you may be able to find important details or arguments an attorney may miss. You can't afford a lawyer. You don't have the money to hire an attorney, especially for as long as the case may take. If you hire an attorney and win, you either will have paid out lots of money or the attorney will take a huge amount off the top. If you lose, you're responsible for the expenses you incurred as well as court costs and fees for your attorney and the attorney for the opposing party.
Your attorney will not share the loss with you. So, if you can't afford a lawyer, you might fare better if you represent yourself in court. You're not overly intimidated by the legal process. The court system is adversarial in nature. It's understandable that you might be intimidated, but don't let it stop you from having your day in court.
Lawyers thrive on the intimidation of pro se litigants , especially those who might actually owe a debt and feel somewhat guilty. Don't allow an attorney to elevate their needs and those of their clients above your own. Show up and stand up. The amount in dispute is less than what you might pay a lawyer. In some instances where money damages are concerned, the amount disputed may be so minuscule that you're better off taking chances with the legal system on your own.
You don't want no stinkin' lawyer. For years the legal profession has supported the notion of lawyers for everyone who needs them, but so far that's a failing proposition.
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