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Can I Represent Myself in Court?

There is an old saying: “a person who represents himself in court has a fool for a client.” Yes, you can represent yourself in court. However, you will be expected to know and adhere to the same rules of law, evidence, and procedure that attorneys spend years learning in law school, and perfecting in the courtroom.

If you are being prosecuted for a criminal offense or a traffic ticket, the prosecuting attorney will have a tremendous advantage. Acting as your own attorney can have disasterous consequences (jail time, probation, hefty fines, court costs, permanent loss of civil liberties, permanent criminal record, etc.) that might otherwise have been avoided or minimized had you simply hired a lawyer.