Hopefully, if you have gone through my entire series on whether to go pro se, you agree with me that the answer is "not necessarily."
It's easy on the extremes. If it's a complex million-dollar suit, a bankruptcy, or a serious criminal charge, don't walk- run- to a lawyer. If it's your first parking ticket, or if you're being sued (or suing) for $500, it's time to touch up on your trial advocacy skills, courtesy of Law & Order. Okay, that last part is a joke.
Where it gets a little murky is in the middle somewhere. The key to the whole process is to take it the way I've laid it out here, rationally. Think it over. Make a list. Don't think about how you hate the other guy because they put you in this spot. If you can't channel all that energy in the first place, you're not going to do as well as you could.
Think it over, take your time, and try to make a reasoned decision. If you can't do it, err on the side of caution- call a lawyer. Heck, if you're in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, give ME a call.
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About Me
- Carl Archer
- I am an elder law attorney with my own solo practice. I'm located in central New Jersey but I make house calls. I am in the business of setting the elderly and their caregivers at ease, by making sure they have high-quality health care they can afford, and governmental benefits they're entitled to.