In criminal cases, if you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint a lawyer for you, like a public defender. But in civil cases, you do not have the right to a court-appointed lawyer so, if you cannot afford your own lawyer, you have to represent yourself.
- Some people choose to represent themselves even if they could pay a lawyer because they feel they can handle the case on their own.
- In small claims cases, you are not allowed to have a lawyer, so everyone in small claims court is representing himself or herself.
Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own lawyer in all cases in California. It is very important that you learn about what is at stake in your case, and what you will be expected to do and know in order to handle it on your own.
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