4 Reasons Why Representing Yourself in Court is a Bad Idea

Seeing someone represent themselves in court — going toe-to-toe with a real lawyer and succeeding — can make a great storyline for a movie or television program.

But it’s important to understand what might work in the land of make-believe and the land of reality. Technically, anyone can represent themselves in court. It’s actually a right — as long as the presiding judge deems the person to be mentally capable of doing so.

It may sound simple enough to lay out your evidence, present your case, and allow the truth to speak for itself. But, again, it’s only simple if you see it played out on a screen. 

The reality is that self-representation is a gamble not worth taking when so much is on the line. If an unfavorable ruling could mean fines or jail time, why take needless risks?

Even if you think that it would be less expensive to defend yourself, the cost of missteps could end up being more costly than hiring an experienced lawyer.

What follows are five reasons why you should not defend yourself in court and should instead get a legal professional in your corner for the best possible results.

1. You Don’t Know the Law

Legal matters are never as clear-cut as they seem. What you may think is a slam-dunk case might be anything but. You may be unaware, for instance, of applicable statutes, procedural rules, and case law precedents. 

Attorneys, meanwhile, understand the law inside and out, so foregoing their help is a major gamble. That’s especially true when considering that the judges and court clerks won’t inform you of the law, and the courts won’t forgive you for mistakes simply because you’re not a professional lawyer. 

So, if you refer to the wrong statute, fail to meet a filing deadline, or get bogged down on what qualifies as admissible evidence, you might derail your case.

2. Emotions Cloud Your Judgment

When personally invested in a case — a divorce, custody fight, or criminal charge — it may be hard to see the forest for the trees. 

Self-representation is a poor decision when the stakes are high and you’re emotionally invested. You’ll be more likely to make rash decisions that land you in trouble.

Hiring a lawyer to handle things will get you the experience and expertise you need.

3. Procedural Mistakes Can Cost You the Case

If you’re going the self-representation route, you’re responsible for learning about courtroom procedures. Making mistakes can derail your odds right out of the proverbial gate.

A few of the mistakes self-represented litigants often make include the following:

• Failing to meet filing deadlines can get the case dismissed.

• Inadequately written papers can be rejected by the court as a matter of course.

• Not serving the other side can render the proceedings null and void.

These aren’t small errors. Lawyers understand how to navigate the process. If you value your freedom, hiring a lawyer to represent you is the only way to go.

4. The Other Side Probably Has a Lawyer

The biggest risk of representing yourself in court is that you’ll have to go toe-to-toe with an experienced lawyer. Lawyers know how to make their case, and they’ll be salivating if they know the opposing party doesn’t have an actual attorney. You’ll be at a disadvantage from the start if you step into a courtroom without a lawyer.

Even when you do have a good case, the other lawyer will be skilled at disputing what you’re saying and objecting when you’re not presenting enough evidence.

By employing a skilled lawyer, you’ll get the help you need in court. Instead of trying to get by and ending up with an undesirable outcome, you should retain a lawyer.

Your case — and your life — are worth too much to handicap your odds through self-representation.