Litigator’s Edge for April 2018
Happy spring! In recognition of April Fool’s Day, let’s start with three legal bits of humor from Reader’s Digest. Spotted on a Law Firm’s Billboard Just because you did it doesn’t mean you’re guilty....
View ArticleWhen A Lawyer Sees Court Through Pro Se Eyes
The thing about social entrepreneurship -- the for-profit kind -- is that you either solve the problem you've chosen or you go out of business. There's a certain urgency to finding a solution. So it's...
View ArticleDon’t Let Jurisdiction Kill Your Case
So, avoid losing on a “technicality.” If you get a dismissal on a jurisdictional issue, don’t roll over and say, “My case was dismissed. I guess that’s that.” Or worse, “I’ll appeal.” If you’ve found a...
View ArticleWhy Case Law Can Be Your Best Friend
It's sometimes difficult to explain to a judge how a statute applies to your set of facts. Without cases to make sense of written laws, statutes can just lay there doing nothing to help you. In...
View ArticleLitigator’s Edge for May 2018
May Day! How is it May already? Summer is fast approaching. In this month’s Courtroom5 Tip, we review the statute of limitations for various claims in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, and...
View ArticleUnleash On Your Opponent With Unbundled Legal Services
As a self-represented litigant, you're in charge of your case. But sometimes you may need or want someone to help you through a rough patch. That's when hiring a lawyer on a limited basis makes sense.
View ArticleHow To Get Past Writer’s Block As A Self Represented Litigant
Your response is due in two days. How long will you stare at that blank page? Writer's block hits pro se litigants more often than not. There's anxiety about the case, intimidation from opposing...
View Article31 Affirmative Defenses And How To Assert Them
Knowing the elements of an affirmative defense and having the ability to properly assert that defense takes you a long way to managing your case strategically. As a pro se litigant, it also helps you...
View ArticleLitigator’s Edge for June 2018
Get out the sunglasses, sunscreen, and tent. It’s summertime, hopefully time for vacation. But not for us at Courtroom5. Never worry. When you’re ready to battle it out in court, we’re ready for battle...
View ArticleCatch Brian Vukadinovich on Pro Se Nation TV
Our good friend Brian Vukadinovich spent a half hour with MaryLynn Schiavi, the host of Pro Se Nation TV. In this wide-ranging discussion, Brian shared some gems about his own experience in the courts,...
View ArticleTips For Writing Effective Pleadings
While the job of a motion is to persuade a judge to rule in your favor on a single issue, the purpose of writing a pleading is to make allegations of fact clear to both the court and the opposing...
View ArticleHow To Use Elements To Prove Your Case Or Defend Yourself
Elements of a claim or defense are the most important building blocks of a case. They’re the engine in a train, the heat in boiling water, the lemons in lemonade, the zip in a zipper! In litigation,...
View ArticleCrafting A Legal Argument Step-by-Step
If asked, most pro se litigants would probably say that a legal argument before a judge is an intimidating, confusing pain in the butt. Others might call it powerful and rewarding. Nonetheless, a legal...
View ArticleAttorney At Law Magazine Features Courtroom5 As Legal Innovator
You know you've made it when lawyers say nice things about you. Okay, just kidding. But it's great to see pro se litigants get the respect we all deserve. Check out this feature story about Courtroom5...
View ArticleLitigator’s Edge for May 2019
In this edition of Litigator’s Edge, our Courtroom5 Tip is on how to get a continuance for a hearing or trial. In Legal Strategy, we discuss the importance of having matters heard in the right order at...
View ArticleGo For The Jugular With A Motion For Summary Judgment
More brutal than the motion to dismiss, the motion for summary judgment can be the Grim Reaper for a case. While an order on the motion to dismiss might give a plaintiff a chance to “fix” problems,...
View ArticleI’m Pro Se. Can I Subpoena A Witness For Oral Testimony? YES.
When you've been in a tug of war with your opponent for months in an attempt to get evidence on the record, and you still have gaps, consider questioning witnesses. It's one of the best ways to prove...
View Article7 People You Want On Your Legal Team When You Represent Yourself In Court
Wouldn't you like to go into court with a posse, a team of people to come to your aid when you need them? While there's nothing quite like a sports team in litigation, you can have a ragtag legal team...
View ArticleA Pro Se Litigant’s Overview Of The Stages Of Litigation
Litigation is a process that can be understood by average people like us. Though it's governed by rules, laws, regulations, and procedures, it's written in plain English (mostly). Any playbook that...
View ArticleLitigator’s Edge for June 2019
In this edition of Litigator’s Edge, our Courtroom5 Tip describes the components of a complaint. We discuss the use of motions and discovery to slow down your case in Legal Strategy. Join us for weekly...
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