Customer Reviews

Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (3rd Ed)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Overall, I'd give this a positive rating, but since it's written for all 50 states, it is so broad in its coverage that it makes it difficult to learn about how to pursue your lawsuit in your particular state.

I'd suggest reading this book and trying to fill out forms as you go. Pick up the 'local rules' from your own court, and study them for what Bergman doesn't tell you.

One thing I will say, though, is that one bit of advice was invaluable...on visiting the court before your motion or case is heard. I did this, and it took a lot of the mystery out of the whole process.

By doing this, by the way, I was completely surprised that (in the motion hearings) that most of what took place was pretty much on a par with small claims court, with a few legal latin phrases peppering the give-and-take. Most of the motions I heard consisted of two things: Why one or the other party failed to meet deadlines, and trying to get the other guy's case thrown out before everyone went to trial.

One other thing that was also surprising...the opposing lawyers where pretty buddy-buddy with each other. I guess the hostility and animosity that one would associate with a lawsuit pretty much reside only in the parties to the suit themselves.

In my appearance, I took it very cool and did not act emotional at all. Let's face it...the court doesn't want to hear it. They just want to get done so they can go to lunch.

This book gives an understandable rendition of the various legal
procedures involved in bringing a major lawsuit into the Court
system. It is most helpful in assisting litigants with case
organization and presentation. The work explains how to document
a case throughout the various phases of a lawsuit with particular
emphasis on presentation of exhibits for trial. The work is
written in a belles lettres style. It could be read by anyone
wanting to understand the litigation process, as well as
law students taking courses in Civil Litigation. The book could
be useful in organizing a case so that a lawyer could pick it
up at a later time. Very often, the details of a claim may not
be fully known until the deposition process has been completed.
I would supplement this book with the purchase of a Civil
Procedure book if the intention is to complete the entire process
right through to trial. This work focuses on the documentation
you will need to develop in order to prove a case at trial.
The work has a good coverage of negotiation strategies.
Ultimately, it is in your interest to deal with a lawyer during
a formal negotiation in order to ascertain that you've secured
a fair deal.It pays to become familiar with a local legal
library as a supplement to this text. In addition, you should
utilize the internet in order to review similar cases
in the various Court jurisdictions relating to your case.
Sometimes it pays to talk to a lawyer who has completed a similar
case in order to gain perspective on the intricacies of the
whole process. This text gives you a good start.
It would be most helpful in organizing the type of case
that only develops after the deposition process is complete.
Early in the litigation, you should do some research in order
to identify cases similar to yours that have been decided.
The past precedent or stare decisis is very critical to
presenting a claim because it encapsules your case into
a similar fact pattern consistent with other cases that have
been decided by the Courts.It is to your benefit to do legal
research in identifying similar cases to your own either by
going into the legal libraries yourself, researching the
internet or paying a small fee for a legal research firm
to identify similar cases as the one you are filing.

This book offers a good summary of the legal process, but offers little or no detail, eg. the strategies of settlement. Focusing on Federal law, it has no state-specific information (although it does indicate where you can find it in some cases). If you're looking for an overview of the process, this is the book for you. But if you have any experience whatsoever, or you're looking to get information on settlement strategy, you're better off using a law library's practice guides and legal treatises.

In my capacity of monitoring the information desk for Chicago's main library, the Harold Washington Library, I come in contact with numerous people who are embroiled in legal battles and who need some accurate guidance in plain English. This book, "Represent Yourself In Court," is one of the books I recommend the most for those who have minor legal issues and can't afford (or choose not) to hire an attorney. It walks you through a whole range of legal proceedings from start to finish. It also presents questions for you to ponder before you decide to initiate legal action. It's written for civil litigation, not criminal. It also gives information about settling a matter, and gives pointers on how to decide if yu need professional help.

One woman who I'd recommended the book to used it to guide her through the divorce proceedings pertaining to her 20-year marriage. The next time she saw me, she couldn't thank me enough for recommending the book. She talked about how the chapter dealing with depositions saved her hundreds of dollars. She also told me that since then one of the authors, Paul Bergman, has put out another book, "Nolo's Deposition Handbook," and she has found it equally useful. I decided to check that book out too, to see if it's another resource I could recommend to folk. It is! I'm equally impressed with its thoroughness and the soundness of its information. In fact, so much so that I've also written a review for it on Amazon's web site. So if your matter involves giving a deposition, also check out my review of that book.

I am a non-custodial father, and after spending four years speaking with family attorneys, going to fathers' support groups and law clinics, I finally found a book that states with clarity the issues that any litigant needs to understand. I used the knowledge gained from this book, along with photocopying the statutes on visitation and child support, and was able to settle a visitation dispute without having to spend the usual thousands of dollars for an attorney. An attorney will not have the vested interest in your case that you do, and so it pays to understand your rights and what you can do. Since more and more men are becoming non-custodial parents, it is most helpful to have a book like this. I highly recommend it.

I am a fourth year law student, and this book is better than any of the study books I have studied. I recommend this book not only for the Lay Person, but also for Law Students and New Attorneys. This book will take you step by step through the Court system and explain how to bring a case into court and how to present and win that case. The references are excellent also! Hank Krastman, Ph.D.

In California a license from the government is necessary for almost any business. That license subjects the licensee to civil litigation that can be initiated by by the regualtory agency,and the entire cost of defense must be borne by the licensee. This book tells the reader how to use his attorney wisely, how not be intimidated, what part of his investigation he can and should do himself, and what to expect when he gets to court. This book can help to make a traumatic experience a little less painful by understanding the legal process and learning how to prepare one's case to help his atorney

You are probably thinking of buying this book to save the cost of attorneys fees. Take my advice and don't do it! This book is based on the premise that the court system is a place where actual rules apply and that you will receive some sort of respect (or at least your constitutional rights) from the arrogant swine who inhabit the system. Nothing could be further from the truth! "He who represents himself has a fool for a client" is true not because you are a fool but because the system is a farce and designed to make a fool out of you.All court system paid participants have a vested interest in guaranteeing that you not be allowed to represent yourself in court. The major failing of this book (written by attorneys) is to pretend that you will be accorded some respect and receive a fair hearing. Some of the preposterous suggestions include hiring an attorney at a reduced fee to act as your advisor! (I will give $1000 to anyone able to find an attorney to act in such a capacity) Other absurd suggestions: that you can demand a fair hearing and complain to higher authorities that will insure you receive it.(no, they are all part of the system). This book cost me thousands. I asked for a refund from the authors.......guess what?, they refused.

Before I file a case, I must be certain I know how to present and win it before a judge or jury. "Represent Yourself in Court" has given me that knowledge. By studying this book, I have been enabled to negotiate with true power. Thus, I have made handsome settlements on two cases against powerful lawyer opponents without ever even having to go to trial. Buy it and become a powerhouse at the bargaining table.

Another good reference book when having to deal with the judicial system. It hits right on the money when it talks about the court system and being treated wrongly because you choose to represent yourself versus paying a high priced lawyer. This is serious business and you must be ready to run with the big dogs or stay on the porch. They will eat you up if you show signs of weakness and haven't made a serious effort to defend yourself using their books and rules.