document updated 13 years ago, on Oct 30, 2010
My personal tips for if I ever become a pro-se litigant:
- realization #1: there's a TON of information about legal procedings, FOR FREE, just by pulling case files at the Cook County Clerk's office (better yet, by pulling them up on the computer)
By pulling up complicated cases that cover similar cases to the one I'm interested in, I can have some sort of idea what a "normal" case is supposed to look like, and what are all the possibilities that can happen. If I have more time than money, this is an EXCELLENT way to do research.
- realization #2: there is a BIG difference in what court records look like for pro-se litigants versus litigants that have representation. By comparing the two, you can have some idea of what a "more professional" court record would look like (and, by extension, possibly what a "more professional" pro-se defense might look like).