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January 27, 2022
No matter what kind of charge you’re facing or claim you’re filing, you’re going to need legal representation — but that representation can come in a variety of forms. In this article, we’ll answer one of the most common questions we get about the legal process: “Can I be my own lawyer?”
No, generally you are not required to hire a lawyer in Columbia, SC. All adult citizens have the constitutional right to represent themselves in court. If you represent yourself, you’re called a “pro se,” “pro per,” or “self-represented” litigant — all of which mean you’re acting as your own attorney.
However, being your own lawyer isn’t recommended. You’ll rarely achieve better results than you would if you worked with a licensed and experienced attorney — if you receive any results in your favor at all. Licensed, experienced professionals know the complex laws and processes specific to Columbia, SC so well that it’s difficult to proceed without them.
Some believe that there are benefits to self-representation. In most cases, these are false benefits. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
While you may save money on lawyer fees by choosing to represent yourself, you’ll likely sacrifice a lot of money you could have earned with better representation. In most cases, the outcome you receive by representing yourself is less than ideal. Depending on the situation, you’ll either receive much less compensation than you deserve, or you’ll end up spending a lot more in fines that the judge imposes on you.
Many people follow the thought process of “I know my situation best, so I can represent myself best.” While it’s true that you were the one who experienced the details of your case first-hand, it’s not always true that you can represent yourself best. Your familiarity with the circumstances doesn’t mean you are familiar with the legal system. You need someone who knows the details of laws and how they apply to your case.
If you do decide to be your own lawyer in Columbia, SC, you’ll need to prepare yourself properly for court. To do so, you’ll want to follow these guidelines:
Being your own lawyer can be overwhelming, and it can often lead to less-than-ideal legal outcomes. In most cases, it’s much more beneficial to hire a Columbia, SC lawyer to represent you. Here are a few main reasons hiring a lawyer is often better than representing yourself:
Looking for some legal help? Talk to our team at Bernstein & Bernstein. We’ll listen to you and make recommendations that best suit your needs. To get started working with one of our Columbia, SC lawyers, give our firm a call or contact us online.
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