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Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare and Try a Winning Case (Paperback)

by Paul Bergman (Author), Sara J. Berman-Barrett (Author), Lisa Guerin (Author) "This book provides the information you need to prepare for trial and represent yourself in court..." (more)
Key Phrases: pro per litigant, legal coach, joint pretrial memorandum, Sarah Adams, Nolo Pedestrian, Rule of Civ (more...)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
The nuts and bolts of self-representation in court are presented in this detailed, sensible book. The authors describe the legal process from the investigation of the case through the collection of a judgment, with an emphasis on what happens in the courtroom. Bergman and Berman-Barrett share the procedures and methods a lay person needs to survive in an environment that is not necessarily friendly to nonattorneys. Understanding that in the law the devil is in the details, they take pains to avoid oversimplification, and they do an equally good job of illuminating concepts like burden of proof and procedures like marking and identifying exhibits. The authors highlight important information with icons that alert the reader to a practical suggestion, warn of a potential problem, or refer to other resources on the subject. Highly recommended for even modest legal self-help collections, including those that already own Robert Schachner's How and When To Be Your Own Lawyer (LJ 3/1/ 93).
Joan Pedzich, Harris, Beach & Wilcox, Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Highly recommended for even modest legal self-help collections. -- Library Journal

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Product Details

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: NOLO; 4th edition (January 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 087337908X
ISBN-13: 978-0873379083
Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #668,973 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#90 in Books > Nonfiction > Law > Perspectives on Law > Judicial System

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
This book provides the information you need to prepare for trial and represent yourself in court. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
pro per litigant, legal coach, joint pretrial memorandum, improper character evidence, closing argument outline, foundational testimony, check your local rules, trial notebook, reaffirmation hearings, foundational evidence, jury trial request, exhibit into evidence, cannot offer evidence, improper opinion, most court systems, direct examination testimony, exhibits into evidence, legal malpractice case, improper testimony, background questioning, responsive papers, local court rules, bankruptcy code section, tentative ruling, missed inspection

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sarah Adams, Nolo Pedestrian, Rule of Civ, Transcript Analysis, Rule of Evid, United States, New York, Credit Company, Zip Code, Cynthia White, Index Tab, Plaintiff Nolo, Pretrial Memorandum, Crazy Cars, Federal Rules of Evidence, Fred Nolo, Procedural Note, Matthew Bender, Pretrial Order, Plaintiff's Motion, Defendant Adams, Texas Civ, Austin Tayshuss, Fact Plaintiff, Officer Krupke

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 57 books:

Civil Procedure by EZ Rules on 10 pages
How to Mediate Your Dispute by Peter Lovenheim on 7 pages
Trial Advocacy in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series) by Paul Bergman on 6 pages
Trial Techniques (Coursebook Series) by Thomas A. Mauet on 4 pages
Fundamentals of Trial Techniques by Thomas A. Mauet on 4 pages

See all 57 books this book cites

9 books cite this book:

Working for Yourself: Law and Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers and Consultants (Working for Yourself) by Stephen Fishman on page 111
Nolo's Guide to California Law (Nolo's Guide to California Law) by Lisa Guerin on page 64
Dog Law (4th National Edition) by Mary Randolph on page 241
The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System by Paul Bergman in Back Matter
Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples (11th National Edition) by Toni Lynne Ihara on page 197

See all 9 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Represent Yourself In Court by Paul Bergman

Discusses:

Civil Litigation by Peggy Kerley

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Trials by Thomas A. Mauet

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Pretrial by Thomas A. Mauet

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	49% buy the item featured on this page: Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare and Try a Winning Case 4.4 out of 5 stars (13)
	28% buy Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case 4.7 out of 5 stars (3) $26.39
	10% buy Represent Yourself In Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case 5.0 out of 5 stars (7)
	6% buy You Don't Need a Lawyer 4.5 out of 5 stars (2) $10.17

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

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

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good, but necessarily limited, intro to the legal system, June 1, 2003

By	Scott FS (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (3rd Ed) (Paperback)

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.

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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great summary, but no detail., April 10, 1999

By	dorkparade@earthlink.net (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare and Try a Winning Case (2nd ed) (Paperback)

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.

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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Represent Yourself in Court, January 25, 2003

By	Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (3rd Ed) (Paperback)

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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Represent Yourself in Court
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... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Harold T. Naylor

5.0 out of 5 stars Going to Court?
Having to go to court with out the money to hire a Lawyer several times, this book proved to be a valuable resource. Read more

Published 15 months ago by J. FERRARA

5.0 out of 5 stars You CAN represent yourself in court!
I used a few books including this one and You Don't Need a Lawyer. I did represent myself in court and was proud of that. Read more

Published on February 19, 2007 by Aries Girl

5.0 out of 5 stars THANKS NOLO for putting this book out! JUST what I needed!
I LOVE this book! Very thorough, endless hints and tips. I am no longer afraid or to bring my own case and feel informed and competent. Read more

Published on October 24, 2005 by W. Thein

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal Information You Can Bank On!
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... Read more

Published on July 21, 2004 by Cynthia Brewer

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money!
You are probably thinking of buying this book to save the cost of attorneys fees. Take my advice and don't do it! Read more

Published on March 8, 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Practical Guide for the Pro Se Litigant
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... Read more

Published on December 28, 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will help you win your case without firing a shot.
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. Read more

Published on October 12, 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on this subject!
I am a fourth year law student, and this book is better than any of the study books I have studied. Read more

Published on August 23, 1998

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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... Read more

Published on March 30, 1997

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