Represent Your Self in Court

by Sara J Berman, Paul Bergman, Sara Berman, et al.

Book Overview

Many disputes are too big for small claims court, but too small to justify a lawyer's contingency fee. Fortunately, with the help of this book, you can handle your own case-from start to finish. Represent Yourself in Court breaks down the trial process into easy-to-understand steps so that you can act as your own lawyer-safely and efficiently. You'll learn what to say, how to say it, even where to stand when you address the judge and jury. Armed with...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0873372220
• ISBN13: 9780873372220
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: NOLO
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.2" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Represent Yourself in Court

This book gives an understandable rendition of the various legalprocedures involved in bringing a major lawsuit into the Courtsystem. It is most helpful in assisting litigants with caseorganization and presentation. The work explains how to documenta case throughout the various phases of a lawsuit with particularemphasis on presentation of exhibits for trial. The work iswritten in a belles lettres style. It could be read by anyonewanting to understand the litigation process, as well aslaw students taking courses in Civil Litigation. The book couldbe useful in organizing a case so that a lawyer could pick itup at a later time. Very often, the details of a claim may notbe fully known until the deposition process has been completed.I would supplement this book with the purchase of a CivilProcedure book if the intention is to complete the entire processright through to trial. This work focuses on the documentationyou will need to develop in order to prove a case at trial.The work has a good coverage of negotiation strategies.Ultimately, it is in your interest to deal with a lawyer duringa formal negotiation in order to ascertain that you've secureda fair deal.It pays to become familiar with a local legallibrary as a supplement to this text. In addition, you shouldutilize the internet in order to review similar casesin the various Court jurisdictions relating to your case.Sometimes it pays to talk to a lawyer who has completed a similarcase in order to gain perspective on the intricacies of thewhole process. This text gives you a good start.It would be most helpful in organizing the type of casethat only develops after the deposition process is complete.Early in the litigation, you should do some research in orderto identify cases similar to yours that have been decided.The past precedent or stare decisis is very critical topresenting a claim because it encapsules your case intoa similar fact pattern consistent with other cases that havebeen decided by the Courts.It is to your benefit to do legalresearch in identifying similar cases to your own either bygoing into the legal libraries yourself, researching theinternet or paying a small fee for a legal research firmto identify similar cases as the one you are filing.

The Most Practical Guide for the Pro Se Litigant

I am a non-custodial father, and after spending four years speaking with family attorneys, going to fathers' support groups and law clinics, I finally found a book that states with clarity the issues that any litigant needs to understand. I used the knowledge gained from this book, along with photocopying the statutes on visitation and child support, and was able to settle a visitation dispute without having to spend the usual thousands of dollars for an attorney. An attorney will not have the vested interest in your case that you do, and so it pays to understand your rights and what you can do. Since more and more men are becoming non-custodial parents, it is most helpful to have a book like this. I highly recommend it.

One of the best books on this subject!

I am a fourth year law student, and this book is better than any of the study books I have studied. I recommend this book not only for the Lay Person, but also for Law Students and New Attorneys. This book will take you step by step through the Court system and explain how to bring a case into court and how to present and win that case. The references are excellent also! Hank Krastman, Ph.D.

How to get the most for your money from your attorney.

In California a license from the government is necessary for almost any business. That license subjects the licensee to civil litigation that can be initiated by by the regualtory agency,and the entire cost of defense must be borne by the licensee. This book tells the reader how to use his attorney wisely, how not be intimidated, what part of his investigation he can and should do himself, and what to expect when he gets to court. This book can help to make a traumatic experience a little less painful by understanding the legal process and learning how to prepare one's case to help his atorney