Self-Representation In Court Cases

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Recommended: 'Self-Presentation': Definition & significance

Self-representation, otherwise known as self-litigation, generally involves a defendant representing themselves as their own attorney in the court of law. “Such cautions notwithstanding, many courts have reported an appreciable increase in the number of cases filed by self-represented litigants in the past decade, especially in family law, landlord/tenant, and small-claims cases” (Goldschmidt, 2002, p.36). Many people often decide to take this course of action in hopes of avoiding costly legal fees. However, it is important to note that with self-representation there are many risks involved. For instance, this practice may be detrimental to the accused receiving a fair hearing and may also bring undue hardship to the court process itself. Furthermore,

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