Representing yourself

Preparing yourself for Court

People can represent themselves in court. However, the law and court procedures can be complicated. You should get legal advice about your circumstances before making a decision. The Legal Aid website has helpful information on getting ready for Court.

The following sections provide resources if you decide to represent yourself.

Getting Legal Advice

Before deciding whether to represent yourself, think about whether you would benefit from being legally represented.

It is a good idea to obtain legal advice ahead of time about your case. Some lawyers can provide coaching, which is a way of helping you to help yourself.

If you are trying to decide whether to represent yourself or have already decided to do so, it may help to research information about the law and the particular court where your case will be heard.

See the following for useful resources.

Legal Aid NSW

Before starting any court proceedings you should check which court or tribunal is right for your matter. Contact Legal Aid NSW for help.

The Representing Myself page provides information to help your resolve your matter and navigate the legal system. Including:

• Getting ready for Court
• Reading and writing legal documents
• Videos to help you represent yourself

Legal Information Access Centre

The Legal Information Access Centre at the State Library of New South Wales provides legal answers, in plain language, to everyday questions about the law. Law librarians at the centre can help you find legal information relevant to your issue. The library has an extensive law collection, including legal text books, law journals, legislation and law reports.

Representing Yourself Factsheets

Consult the website of the court or tribunal where your case will be heard. Most jurisdiction websites have information that can help you to prepare for specific types of court cases. For example:

• Supreme Court factsheet to representing yourself
• Land and Environment Court information about representing yourself, including 'Litigants in person' publication.

Can you bring a friend to support you in court?

You can have a support person sit with you in court. You need to ask permission of the magistrate or judge if you want a friend to speak on your behalf, and this is usually only at the hearing.