Pro se: Where angels fear to tread

There’s an old saying: “An attorney that represents himself has a fool for a client.” Still, you may choose to go “pro se.” If you represent yourself in court, prepare to think and communicate like an attorney. While that’s easier said than done, below are few resources to help you win.

For legal research try:

• Start with: How to Read a Legal Opinion by Orin Kerr, a George Washington University law professor. It’s for first year law students but is helps anyone new to the law.
• Next, go to Google Scholar where there are plenty of Utah cases online and free.
• The Utah State Law Library Research Resources;
  • and its blog.
• Utah Code.
• For federal law, try Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.

Books to read:

• Winning at Trial
  by D. Shane Reed

  This is a great book for understanding trials from beginning to end. The author, who works for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, discusses techniques to persuade judges and juries in the court room.

   

• Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges
  by Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner

  Successfully defending criminal charges largely depends on what happens before trial. Pretrial motions, like motions to suppress, are decided by judges. This book, co-authored by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, is invaluable for winning with judges.

• Legal Writing in Plain English
  by Bryan A. Garner

  Lawyering is writing. And most people think that in order to defend themselves, they need to sound like a lawyer; not so. Stop using “wherefore” and “shall” and start winning. Great book for all writing.

 
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