There are times in all our lives when we need the services of an attorney or lawyer. It could be something as simple as drawing up the paperwork for a house purchase or the making of a will right through to a complicated and lengthy lawsuit. Whatever it may be, we are likely to be in serious trouble and aware that the stakes are too high if we lose.

Unfortunately, as in all aspects of our lives, there are good attorneys and there are bad. The usual time to use an attorney is if we are getting divorced and because this doesn't happen often, we have no idea what the costs are likely to be and we have to accept whatever the attorneys tell us. Although the attorney will be working for you and taking your money, he will have a greater allegiance to other attorneys and particularly to the judge. If you are aware of this you're left with two choices.

Either you need to find an attorney who will be prepared to look after you or you do it yourself! Finding an honest, hard working attorney who will be devoted to your case is not easy. It takes time and, very often that's a commodity we don't have at the time. We're often forced into a corner and take the first attorney that we're offered. We don't ask the most basic questions like, 'what are your fees?' or 'what are your success rates?' but we're just grateful that someone is willing to take our case. At the end of the day, we're very vulnerable. If it doesn't go well in court and we're told that it was the best possible deal we could expect from that particular judge we have no come-back. We have to pay up to the court and pay up to the attorney.

Do we have a choice? Well yes. You could decide to defend yourself. It's radical but it can be done and if you do it right you could well make far more of an impact on the judge than a very expensive attorney. You'll need to be aware of protocol and the court basics which go something like this: the plaintiff files the complaint and the defendant answers the complaint. The case is heard in front of a judge and, if necessary, a jury. Although it's the judge who's in charge of the whole case it's the jury who decides the verdict and when they've given their verdict, the judge passes sentence.

If the case is a disagreement the plaintiff and defendant are encouraged to settle matters out of court. Not only does this save time and tension but it also saves huge expense. On many occasions, however, the parties cannot settle their differences and it is then the job of the court to examine the evidence, hear the testimonies, consider the arguments and to offer its judgment.

If, however, you need to actually 'perform' in court the following points may be of help:

1. The judge should be treated like a god. Don't mess him around.
2. Remember that his time is very valuable. He has far more on than he can cope with, so when you speak be short and to the point. Make sure that every point you make is logical and doesn't have 'holes' that the other side can exploit.
3. Address the judge as 'your honor' and if you want to make a particular point without sounding rude or confrontational say 'with all due respect'. Look him in the eyes but without any sense of confrontation. You want him to see you as a good, honest person who is respectful of him and the world in general. If it is a matrimonial matter then make sure that he can see that you can understand the other point of view. He needs to see that you are rational and desperately doing your best for your family.
4. Dress carefully. Again your clothes need to show respect and a conservative outlook.

Just by speaking clearly and concisely whenever the judge speaks to you, you should do as well as most attorneys and it won't cost you. In fact, you stand more than a good chance of succeeding.

Lauren Jenkins is the editor and webmaster of "Attorney Views" a premier attorney information site on the Internet. For more information following this article please pay a visit.

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