You must answer innumerable questions before it can be determined if you need a lawyer. Can you stand up in court and tell a judge why you should have your way? Do you understand admissible evidence versus inadmissible evidence? Can you define and recognize hearsay? Do you know which forms are required and when? Do you have time to learn all you need to know? It goes on and on, and like every other legal question It Depends!

 The law of California states that a person who represents himself or herself will be held to the same standards as a competent attorney. And the court does not give advisory opinions, nor does it teach law. Certainly, there are some self represented parties who manage to litigate without an attorney; maybe some are better than some of the attorneys.

In the legal profession we have an old saying: "The attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client." The fact remains that legal issues, terminology and procedures are all convoluted and not easily understood by even very intelligent people, not to mention that the law is changing every day — in the legislature and in the appellate court decisions. Finally, the emotional stress when one is a party to the action does not bode well for the self represented.