Yes, if you don't work as a trial lawyer or criminal defense attorney. Many lawyers have never set foot in a courtroom, but they have led senior positions. While an attorney may not be absolutely necessary, having an experienced attorney to fight for you in court can change your entire legal experience. It can be intimidating to speak before a judge or to know what your legal rights are in the court process if you are representing yourself.
Only lawyers can go to court on behalf of another person. Illinois Attorney's Law says: “No person shall be permitted to practice as an attorney or legal counsel in this state without having previously obtained a license for that purpose from the Supreme Court of this state. If you represent yourself and don't have an attorney to anticipate these costs, you may not be able to afford the experts you need to prove your case. If you're suing your employer for employment discrimination or wrongful dismissal, you'll most likely need an attorney.
Vermont, Washington, California and Virginia allow people to become lawyers by “reading the law”, which, in a nutshell, means studying and being an apprentice in the office of a practicing lawyer or judge. In the case of civil protection orders, forms are often designed to be completed by a person without an attorney and can be quite simple. Their Movement Lawyering page provides an overview of the legal learning movement with information, resources, advice, and first-hand accounts from both supervising attorneys and trainees. For example, the presence of representatives other than lawyers at hearings on Social Security and unemployment benefits.
There are other types of cases that are difficult or impossible to win for non-lawyers because the law or procedure is extremely complex or because the cost of taking the case to trial is high. An attorney can tell you if you have enough background to file an appeal and talk to you about other options. So, in a country where more than 88 percent of attorneys are white, 70 percent are men, and 75 percent are over 40, is it surprising that our legal system doesn't repeatedly serve the interests of young people, women, communities of color, and other underrepresented groups? There are complicated “rules of evidence” that detail what type of statements, documents, or other evidence can be admitted (accepted by a judge) in court, something that a lawyer would know. Most local bar associations have lawyer referral and information services that can allow you to speak with an attorney during a limited meeting, but usually for a small fee. The next question was originally directed to John Roska, lawyer and editor of the weekly column The Law Q&A in the Champaign News Gazette.
For example, if you hired a roofing contractor to install a new roof and the new roof leaked, you may be able to sue the roofing contractor without an attorney or expert witnesses, since you can prove on your own that (you hired the contractor to install a new roof, (you paid the contractor), (the roof leaked) and (the leaks caused damage). It's a good idea to talk to an attorney before starting a case so that you understand if you have a valid reason to start a case and what your chances of winning are.
