Have You Ever Represented Yourself? Would You Ever?
This week, we noted the story of a retired Massachusetts audio visual technician who successfully fought a $25 traffic ticket pro se—after paying a $300 filing fee and having to wait two years for a resolution.
“I prosecuted the case without legal help—something I will never do again,” Michael Rivers told the Boston Globe. “It was painful, like doing my own dentistry.” (In the comments of our post, however, Rivers says he was happy that he won, that he learned a lot about the law and that he’s trying to recover the $300 filing fee.)
While lawyers representing themselves have a leg up on laymen who try to do the same thing, this week, we’d like to ask you: Have you ever represented yourself? Would you ever do it, or do you believe in the adage that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client? Tell us why.
Answer in the comments.
Read the answers to last week’s question: For Yourself or a Client, Have You Ever Challenged What You Considered an Absurd Law?
Featured answer:
Posted by Lynne: “Challenged a municipal ordinance which gave cops the discretion to charge whatever they wanted to give a permit for a peaceful protest march or mass gathering. Ordinance also expressly stated that Boy Scouts were always free, as were veterans. Oh really? Won in federal district court and first circuit. Need to have specific schedule of reasonable fees applicable to everyone ($100 v. $2,400).”
