Representing oneself as a lawyer in court is known as self-representation or self-litigation. This practice is not advised as it can lead to more problems than advantages for the accused. Disadvantages may include unfair treatment in the court of law, misunderstanding due to minimal or no legal background, and a greater possibility that the court system will suffer in the process. It is important to be aware that most individuals who decide to participate in this practice do this out of great desperation and lack of money (Grant, 2015). This creates panic and uneasiness which reflects how they portray themselves in the courtroom. For this reason, advocating should be strictly done by lawyers. According to the Ottawa Citizen, the accused may
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When an individual represents themself in court they are likely to endure obstacles, such as not being taken seriously in the court of law and confusion in regards to legal terms and procedures. This ultimately creates a huge barrier that holds back the entire court system. By considering and following through with this practice, litigants are basically consenting to a distinct disadvantage. One judge in particular, believed that allowing the defendant to represent themself as their own attorney in the courtroom was just like “allowing hospital patients into an operation room to perform surgery on themselves” (Makin, 2012). This powerful example essentially means that if litigants do not have the experience nor the education in law then they have no business taking it on by themself. Hence, those who have little or no legal background should leave it to the experts to handle. By obtaining a lawyer, the accused can rest assure that his or her lawyer is knowledgeable in the subject pertaining to their specific case as well as the protocol one must follow in order to successfully win. As previously mentioned, the only major benefit of self-ligation is the cost-free aspect. Initially it may sound appealing, but litigants usually find out the hard way that it is not worth jeopardizing their future in order to save some money because in the end it usually ends up with them costing them their
When an individual represents themself in court they are likely to endure obstacles, such as not being taken seriously in the court of law and confusion in regards to legal terms and procedures. This ultimately creates a huge barrier that holds back the entire court system. By considering and following through with this practice, litigants are basically consenting to a distinct disadvantage. One judge in particular, believed that allowing the defendant to represent themself as their own attorney in the courtroom was just like “allowing hospital patients into an operation room to perform surgery on themselves” (Makin, 2012). This powerful example essentially means that if litigants do not have the experience nor the education in law then they have no business taking it on by themself. Hence, those who have little or no legal background should leave it to the experts to handle. By obtaining a lawyer, the accused can rest assure that his or her lawyer is knowledgeable in the subject pertaining to their specific case as well as the protocol one must follow in order to successfully win. As previously mentioned, the only major benefit of self-ligation is the cost-free aspect. Initially it may sound appealing, but litigants usually find out the hard way that it is not worth jeopardizing their future in order to save some money because in the end it usually ends up with them costing them their