Jury Trial or Trial to a Judge?
We've discussed this issue before but I wanted to go over it again, not because we offer an ebook on jury selection but because it is an area where someone representing themselves (known as pro…
pro se
I Fired My Lawyer and Got My File, Now What?
Unfortunately, many people get mad at their attorneys and fire them without really, really thinking it through first. There are others whose attorneys back out of a case once it is started. Often the person…
Discovery and Legal Research are the Most Important Skills of Being Pro Se
The real problem with representing yourself against a debt collector, in a divorce, or any other lawsuit is that you don't have as much knowledge as you need. You will never know as much about…
Discovery Basics for the Pro Se Pt. 2 – What are Interrogatories?
Interrogatories are probably the most basic form of discovery, although some would argue that is actually the mandated disclosures, and they are the source for determining what evidence exists and what you can expect in…
Using Exhibits with Motions and Other Paperwork
A friend mentioned he had been getting a few questions from people representing themselves in court, also known as appearing pro se or pro per, and since it is an issue that is both easy…
The Most Important Aspect of Representing Yourself Pro Se
A common question is "what is the most important thing for someone representing themselves in court to know?" There are actually a couple of answers to that. In reality it is knowing what you don't…
How to Read and Brief a Case When Doing Legal Research
As we have said on here many times, the chief advantage an attorney has over a pro se litigant (someone who is representing themselves in court) is knowledge. Not intelligence, but knowledge. What that really…
Pro Se or Not Pro Se
Appearing pro se (representing yourself in court rather than using a lawyer) is becoming more common. Some judges have one day in which they try to schedule all pro se cases while others stagger them…
The Rules of Civil Procedure – The Guide to Your Lawsuit
A friend of the website who does a lot of work with people representing themselves mentioned that most people he talks to are absolutely unaware of the rules governing cases and thought we should do…
The #1 Mistake Made by Pro Se and Pro Per Parties
This article suddenly came to me when I was talking with a person representing themselves the other day. We were discussing an issue regarding the Rules of Civil Procedure, which anyone who is representing themselves…