Courts have rules and require that they be followed – even by people with no lawyer. Rules are not just procedural suggestions. Some are so important that failing to comply may mean the case is lost. For example, if you’re being sued in federal court, Rule 12 provides that your answer must be filed in 21 days. If you try to file it on day 22, the case could be lost! But where do you find the rules? What do they mean? Which ones apply?
Be Your Own Lawyer will research and identify all the rules that are relevant to your case. We know how to research them. We know what they mean. We will make sure you are never confused or blindsided by a rule that you may not have been aware of or did not understand.
Where to start? Statutes, case law, rules, regulations…. all the different kinds of laws can be overwhelming. And if you’re going to represent yourself, you need to know and understand the law that applies to your case. ALL OF IT! Not just a single code section that is favorable. Not just a legal quote here or there. You need to be able to deal with every statute, every regulation and every court decision.
This is where Be Your Own Lawyer shines. With an average of thirty years of courtroom and legal experience our lawyers know exactly where to look. They know how to research case law, statutes and regulations that apply to your case. They know how to organize it for you so that it will all be at your fingertips when you need it most.
What are interrogatories? How are you supposed to respond to those requests for production? The notice you received says that your deposition will be taken on such and such day at such and such time. What’s a deposition?
Discovery is a process in which the parties exchange information, and it’s an integral part of any lawsuit. Ironically, while many people completely are unfamiliar with it a case can be won or lost in the discovery process.
With an average of more than thrity years of courtroom experience, at Be Your Own Lawyer we’ve seen every discovery mode in the book. Not only will we help you respond to discovery, we’ll help you send out your own to get the information you need to win your case.
Pleadings, motions, legal briefs… what are they? What do they mean? How are they prepared? Everything is any court case is controlled by documents. From the beginning of the case to the end. If they’re not properly prepared your case will be lost long before you ever get near a judge or a jury.
Be Your Own Lawyer can help you correctly prepare every kind of legal document that you will need. From the initial pleadings – the complaint or the answer, to motions and the legal briefs that nowadays must accompany almost every document.
You’ve filed your lawsuit, or, you been served with a lawsuit. What do you do next? The other side has filed a motion of some sort and a hearing has been scheduled. What do you say? When do you say it? You have a document you want the judge to look at, but how and when do you present it? These and hundreds of more questions just like them demand professional help.
Relax!!
The lawyers at Be Your Own Lawyer have been doing this stuff for years and years. They’re here to help you answer all these questions and more, and to guide you every step of the way.
To sum up…. yes, representing yourself in court comes with a lot of challenges. The good news is that
Be Your Own Lawyer can help you every step of the way!!