How and When to Be Your Own Lawyer: A Step-By-Step Guide to Effectively Using Our Legal System

By Robert W. Schachner, Robert Schachner, Marvin Quittner

Book Overview

"A thorough, careful examination of the ins and outs of self-representation . . . the text is as interesting as practical." - Library Journal "A valuable read for every entrepreneur. Knowing the legal system will not only put you at ease, but will immensely help in making you a better and more effective client when working with an attorney." - Entrepreneur If you're having problems with a business deal that's soured, an unresponsive landlord, or the guy who totaled your car, you can turn to the courts for relief. But if you think there is only one way to proceed, think again. In this country, there is a tradition of self-help law that is as much a part of our heritage as mom, apple pie, and the American flag. It's called pro se--legal self-representation--and it may be the answer for you. In this, the updated second edition of How and When to Be Your Own Lawyer-- one of the most successful self-help law books ever published--authors Robert Schachner and Marvin Quittner, Esq., provide the average person with a no-nonsense guide to using the American legal system. Written in plain English, How and When to Be Your Own Lawyer leads you through the maze of legal processes principles--step by step--from making a realistic appraisal of your case to collecting a judgment. It provides information on drawing up a complaint, using a law library, devising strategy, assembling evidence, filing motions, and preparing and presenting your case in court, including advice on how to deal with an opposing attorney when proceeding pro se. The authors also offer clear explanations of legal terms and historical background that helps to make sense of many puzzling aspects of the law, all highlighted by real-life case histories.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399527303
• ISBN13: 9780399527302
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Tarcher
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

GREAT BOOK

A fantastic book that gives you the ins and outs of being your own lawyer. Highly recommended.

An ethical advocate for the service of Justice and search for truth

In comparison to Paul Bergman's legendry book "Represent Yourself In Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case", this one is a legendary rival of a different flavor. The author entrusts his genuine instincts and writes as an advocate for the underdogs, needy, and less powerful in face of unfair, expensive, and complex system of justice. Unfairness stems from the persons in charge of delivering justice. The Author uses Judge Brian Duff as an example for personal effect on the service of justice. Despite the critiques on the poor organization and trivial inaccuracies in the book, it serves as an informal, casual, and benign display of information that is easy to read and assimilate while time sneaks by. (Bergman book's strict organization renders its reading laboriously time demanding). Once every few pages, the author interjects the highlighted concepts in full-page tables. The author convincingly achieves his goal that reason and logic could triumph if supported by simple know-how. In many of his anecdotes about litigants betrayed by incompetent counsels, the author makes the reader senses his insider's frustration with his own profession. He contends that his book was driven by the dilemma of the legal profession of: whether lawyers should be in it for self-enrichment or moral conduct? It might be quite demanding to retrieve information from the book if you are in a hurry for a court appearance, since the book lacks clear and unified template. However, if you enjoy reading for relaxing and focusing on deep thoughts and strategies, this book has it. For example, it stresses on slow talking in clear and systematic manner in many effective ways. Slow, slow, and slow talking in front of the court is highly stressed for reporting and logical reasons of trying evidence and appeal. It then addresses the issue of not repeating evidence unless there is a specific need other than rehearsing it. The author alerts the self representatives of the perils of objection to adversaries and explains reasonable situations when objection is a plus. He then stresses on the fact that the self-representative should realize that both the judge and the jury have mere cursory knowledge of the lawsuit at hand which requires the pro se not to assume any previous knowledge and to lay the foundation form beginning to end in logical fashion. Ethos, pathos, and logos of Aristotle describe the elements of his closing arguments. Those are summarized as attitude of orator, his passion and emotion, and finally his logical analysis in summing up his case to the court. He emphasizes understatement and simple common sense as effective tools to abstract truth from a complexly intermingling situation. The author addresses the science part of trying legal suits and left the art part to the reader to labor at. His strategies of searching for the truth extend far beyond material evidence to moral character, personal credibility, and evidence's relevance and credibility. H