Be Your Own Lawyer
Two Things Great Communicators Do Well Mark Twain is credited with once saying, “It takes me three weeks to prepare for an impromptu speech.” If you’ve ever watched a really good trial lawyer give an opening statement or closing argument, you’ll walk away from the experience moved, motivated and […]
And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
The secret to finding your footing in court is a solid litigation strategy. Not only does it give you a roadmap to victory, it forces you to analyze your strengths in the case and your opponent’s weaknesses. It also guides your legal research throughout the case and prepares you to make a good showing in front of a judge. The most important thing is to ask the right questions about your case. Here are some questions to get you started.
And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
Long after a case is over, a pro se litigant might say, “if I knew then what I know now, things might have turned out better.” Here are 5 lessons that self represented litigants learn too late, after they’ve lost their cases. We know from experience that’s the absolute worst way to learn, because every case matters.
And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
How do you respond to a complaint? Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, there are multiple ways. You can choose fear-, or anger-driven responses, like crying or calling the plaintiff and cursing them out. Or, you can do what so many others who cannot afford a lawyer do. Nothing. So, we’re back at square one. How do you […]
You’re the plaintiff in a lawsuit, and you have a return of service in your hands, proof that the defendant has received your complaint. Now, you wait. It’s the defendant’s move. The most likely response is a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim or cause of action.
And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
Thinking about an appeal during litigation may seem like preparing for failure. Indeed, it sounds counterproductive or downright pessimistic. However, keeping an appeal uppermost in your mind throughout your case is not preparing for failure so much as sharpening your knives. When you have an opportunity to preserve an issue, don’t miss it.
And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
For many people, the word “private investigator” triggers images of fictional characters involved in high speed chases through large cities. They routinely have guns pulled on them. They investigate murders and find the perpetrators. Fictional private investigators rescue kidnap victims or may themselves be kidnapped. They get thrown out of places (sometimes physically). Real life private investigators aren’t so adventuresome. Yet, they can provide critical information for your case. And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
When you’ve been in a tug of war with your opponent for months in an attempt to get evidence on the record, and you still have gaps, consider questioning witnesses. It’s one of the best ways to prove or disprove a claim or defense. In fact, sometimes it’s the only way to get certain evidence on the record. So don’t let your pro se status stop you from using a subpoena to bring in a witness. Then, the fun really starts. And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
You know you’ve made it when lawyers say nice things about you. Okay, just kidding. But it’s great to see pro se litigants get the respect we all deserve. Check out this feature story about Courtroom5 in Attorney At Law Magazine. And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.
To be your own lawyer, you have to face some obstacles. The biggest is an opponent’s lawyer, and they don’t play fair. Using Donald Best’s “9 Tips for dealing with an Abusive Lawyer…” as a jumping off point, we discuss bad lawyer behaviors and ways to avoid or address them.
