According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, more and more litigants are foregoing hiring an attorney and instead choosing to represent themselves in court. The economic downturn has been cited as the most likely culprit. A growing number of individuals are facing bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, and employment proceedings. For individuals faced with these potentially expensive legal battles, hiring a lawyer to the tune of at least $150 an hour is inconceivable.

Legal aid organizations that provide free legal consultation and representation in civil cases to low-income individuals have been impacted by the economy as well. Due to cuts in funding, most are forced to turn away some people who would otherwise be eligible for assistance. Experts say that litigants are losing court battles that they otherwise would have won if they had had a lawyer.

Self-representation is likely to increase. For those individuals forced to go it alone or who choose to represent themselves, education about the legal process and the courts is key. There are online resources available to assist self-represented litigants.

Visit the Help for Court Users page of our website to find information on resources in Pennsylvania available to self-represented litigants and our guide on navigating the civil court system.