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3 Tips on How to Represent Yourself in Court

Sarah Edwards | February 19, 2024

Sarah Edwards
Legal Expert
Sarah Edwards, BS

Sarah Harris is a professional researcher and writer specializing in legal content. An Emerson College alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the prestigious Boston institution.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: The best way to represent yourself in court is to understand relevant laws and procedures, come prepared and organized, and be respectful and professional. You can use SoloSuit to draft and file an Answer into your case and start the process of representing yourself.

Summary: understand relevant laws and procedures, come prepared and organized, and be respectful and professional.

Can you represent yourself in court? The answer is yes, and it has a name — it’s called appearing “pro se.” However, just because you can represent yourself doesn’t mean you should. In almost every case, it’s best to have an attorney.

With that being said, many people simply can’t afford an attorney, and they may not qualify for legal aid services, either. If you’ve found yourself in this predicament, it’s important to do what you can to give yourself the best chance of winning. Here’s a closer look at representing yourself in court.

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Represent Yourself

Can you represent yourself in court without a lawyer?

Receiving a Summons can be stressful, and you may hope to avoid more hassle by handling it on your own. While you can represent yourself without a lawyer, it’s typically not the best option. However, there are a few cases when it makes the most sense to represent yourself. Let’s consider an example.

Example: Todd is being sued by a debt collector called Collect Representatives Inc. Collect Representatives insists he owes them $500. Todd and the debt collector were unable to agree on a settlement amount, so this case became one of the rare ones that went all the way to trial. Todd searches “how to represent yourself in court and win” and sees that getting an attorney is universally recommended. However, when he calls around, he discovers that the cheapest attorney in his area will charge him a flat fee of $800 — more than the amount he’s being sued for! If Todd represents himself and loses, he’ll be out $500. But if he hires an attorney and loses, he’ll be out $1,300. He decides that because the amount of money at stake is relatively small, he’ll take a chance and represent himself.


Represent yourself in court with the help of SoloSuit.

How much does it cost to represent yourself in court?

How much it costs to represent yourself varies by state. Before making the decision to represent yourself, get in touch with your county clerk’s office and determine how much you’d need to pay the court in order to represent yourself.

Representing yourself will certainly save you money on attorney’s fees. However, it’s important to keep long-term costs in mind as well. Representing yourself is a gamble, and if you lose, you’ll be stuck paying whatever amount of money you’ve been sued for.

Here are three tips on representing yourself in court

When circumstances determine that representing yourself is your only option, don’t panic! If you’re wondering how to represent yourself in court without a lawyer, the key is preparation. Follow these three tips to make sure you’re ready for whatever the courtroom throws at you:

1. Understand relevant laws and procedures

You probably don't have much time to become well-versed in debt law because you typically have to respond to a Summons before your state’s deadline, which is usually only a couple of weeks. Still, you should do your best to understand the laws relevant to your situation.

If you can prove that the debt collector has acted in violation of at least one law, your case will be strengthened. Study both state and federal laws. Here are a few that might be applicable to a debt collection lawsuit:

It’s also absolutely essential to understand courtroom procedure. When you represent yourself in court, the judge won’t walk you through each step — they’ll treat you like another attorney.

It’s also important to note that court staff are legally forbidden from giving you legal advice or guidance, so they can’t tell you what to do or say in the courtroom.

Check out SoloSuit’s tips for drafting a killer Answer in the video below:

2. Come prepared and organized

Of all the things you need to bring to the courtroom, your evidence is probably the most crucial. You need to have evidence to back up your claims.

For example, if you’re contesting the debt because you’ve already paid it off, you can’t just tell the court it was paid off and expect them to believe you. You need a receipt, bank statement, or some other form of evidence. If you have multiple forms of evidence, bring them all.

You also will need to share your evidence with the court. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to have at least three copies of each piece of evidence, but it can’t hurt to have more.

Before you get to the courtroom, make sure that all the paperwork you have is well organized. The judge won’t appreciate it if you have to dig through a massive pile of paper every time you present a point!

3. Be respectful and professional

The impressions you make on people matter, and that’s especially true in a courtroom. Conducting yourself professionally will increase your chances of a good outcome. Here are a few tips:

  • Address the judge as “Your Honor.”
  • Stand up while talking to the judge.
  • Dress nicely but conservatively, as you would for an important business meeting.
  • Don’t interrupt or argue with the judge.
  • Don’t use profane language.

These suggestions impact more than just your case. If you yell, interrupt, or talk over the judge or other people, you might be held in contempt of court.

Learning how to represent yourself in court without a lawyer can be a very time-intensive process. If you want to increase your chances of winning, make sure to give this process the time and focus it deserves.

Consider a consultation

Even if you aren’t hiring an attorney to represent you, it’s worth setting up a consultation before you represent yourself in court. A good lawyer might be able to suggest a defense strategy or a relevant case you can cite.

Some lawyers offer free consultations, but even if the one you hire doesn’t, the fee for a consultation is lower than what a lawyer would charge to represent you in the courtroom.

Learn more: Should I Hire a Civil Litigation Attorney?

SoloSuit helps you resolve your debt before your court date

It’s possible to represent yourself in court and still win. However, in virtually every case, it works out better for you and the debt collector if you can resolve the debt before your case even sees the inside of a courtroom. If you need a debt collector to validate your debt or are hoping to settle outside of court, turn to SoloSuit!

Ready to settle your debt lawsuit and be done with it? Check out SoloSettle by SoloSuit today!

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