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Be Your Own Lawyer

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Litigation On A Budget — Pondering The Cost Of Representing Yourself

When you must choose between battling it out in court, quitting or hiring a lawyer, battling it out might be the most attractive option. If you have a strong case, it can be much better and cheaper than quitting. Further, though court costs and fees are steep, they’re not nearly as much as paying for a lawyer. The biggest downside to representing yourself is your own knowledge. In the event that you go this course, be ready to put your best foot forward and pull out your wallet on occasion.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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The Difficulties Of Dealing With Supercilious Lawyers

You may as well get used to it. Supercilious lawyers are here to stay. Focus instead on making it as difficult as possible for them to get an easy win. If you lose, you’ll have stood up for yourself. That helps us all in the long run. If you win, you can forever say, I faced the supercilious lawyer, and I smote him thus!
A tongue-in-cheek look at lawyers who bemoan the presence of pro se litigants in court.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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Affirmative Defenses To Assert When An Act Was Beyond Your Control

If you’re a defendant, and the plaintiff’s injury was beyond your control, you might be able to assert the affirmative defenses of intervening acts, frustration of purpose, impossibility of performance, impracticability, or force majeure.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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Did The Judge Really Ask, “Who Wrote That Up For You?”

You’ve filed a motion. All the research required to effectively argue the motion is behind you. You have cases ready to cite. You’ve written and practiced your argument. You know your opponent’s strong and weak points. You feel you can persuade the judge to rule in your favor. You even know the questions the judge might ask. Except, in court, the judge asks “Who wrote that up for you?” Despite all your preparation, you didn’t see that coming at all.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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The Crackheads and Extortionists Who Sell State Laws

Imagine you’ve been sued for foreclosure, failure to pay a debt, or eviction. Or you must sue for custody of your children or grandchildren. You’re in danger of losing important things. You can’t afford a lawyer, but you can represent yourself. To have a fighting chance, you need free and easy access to laws. Then, in walks the state. Actually, “walks” isn’t the right word. Let’s say, stumbles, limps, shuffles or bumbles. It wants to charge you for access to the laws you need. Your chances of winning, which weren’t good to begin with, are greatly reduced by a state that is acting like a crackhead and extortionist.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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When Opposing Counsel Wants Mediation, Prepare For Trial

Nothing in litigation is fast and easy. In fact, when you’re representing yourself, fast and easy is a fantasy. So, when in the thick of a case, you’re sitting at a table being deposed by (1) two youngish “good cop” lawyers wearing suits and benevolent smiles, and (2) a crusty old geezer attorney wearing a buzz cut, torn jeans, a shirt he picked up from a pile of discarded donations, and a scowl, you know things certainly won’t be fast or easy. So prepare for trial.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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3 Legal Letters Every Pro Se Litigant Should Know About

Most communication in litigation with an opposing party is by way of motions, pleadings, discovery requests, and the occasional email. But from time to time, it’s necessary to communicate via a letter before or during litigation. Below, we discuss three of the most important party-to-party legal letters–the letter of protection, the spoliation letter, and the demand letter.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.

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Best Blog Posts For Pro Se Litigants — The 2019 Edition

In previous years, we balanced our blog with posts about legal news, access to justice issues, civil procedure, and how to. In 2019, we posted more hard hitting how-to, legal strategy, and civil procedure articles. They’re amongst our top posts. We took on topics like writing amendments to pleadings, a useful “support team” for pro se litigants, and defeating summary judgment. Still, we had time to focus on lawyer behaviors, Courtroom5 in the news, and pro se litigant types. 2019 was a successful blogging year for us. Thank you for your support of our blog.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.