Going Off the Record
If you ever take the time to go to court and watch hearings or trials, and you should if you are going to represent yourself, you will see lawyers and judges agreeing to go "off…
represent yourself in court
Catch ‘Em by Surprise
I'm going to veer from the more substantive posts I've been doing lately to discuss a trial tactic that is particularly applicable with pro se litigants (people representing themselves in lawsuits). And although I always…
Types of Appeals from Municipal Court, Small Claims Courts, and Justice of the Peace Courts
There are a number of different courts which deal with minor matters such as traffic or municipal tickets or small claims. However, many of these cases end in such a way that one party feels…
Excellent Information for Pro Se Litigants
We don't link to other people's websites very often because the information is often wrong and even more often outdated. However, while looking for questions that need answers we came across the following podcast/transcript in which…
Pro Se and Representing Yourself in Court
There are several phrases associated with representing yourself in court. "Pro Se" is actually a Latin phrase meaning "on one's own behalf" and is the most common way to refer to a person representing themselves in…
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…
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…