pro se
Without legal counsel
Pro se describes representing oneself in legal proceedings without a lawyer.
The Latin phrase means "for oneself." A pro se litigant files motions, argues in court, and handles all aspects of their case personally: She filed the divorce petition pro se.
Courts often provide simplified forms and procedures for pro se filers, recognizing that most lack legal training.
Party in lawsuit
- self-representationPortraying oneself directly
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- filingStoring documents systematically
motion · pleadings · hearing · trial · brief · affidavit · discovery · subpoena
Lacking official advocacy
- self-helpUnassisted personal development
- formsVarieties or documents
- templatesPreset formats for copying
- statutesFormally enacted laws
procedural · regulations · codes · waiver · indigent · handbook · guide
Depending on oneself alone
- independenceFreedom from external control
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
self-guided · self-sufficient · capable · determined · persistent · self-directed · bootstrapping · self-educated
litigant
Party in lawsuit
- self-representationPortraying oneself directly
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
filing · motion · pleadings · hearing · trial · brief · affidavit · discovery · subpoena · deposition
unrepresented
Lacking official advocacy
- self-helpUnassisted personal development
- formsVarieties or documents
- templatesPreset formats for copying
statutes · procedural · regulations · codes · waiver · indigent · handbook · guide
self-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
- independenceFreedom from external control
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
self-taught · self-guided · self-sufficient · capable · determined · persistent · self-directed · bootstrapping · self-educated · unassisted
- Legal Latinab initio, bona fide, caveat emptor, certiorari, de facto
- court proceedingstrial, arraignment, verdict, hearing, testimony
- legal resourceslaw library, legal forms, court forms, law reviews, legal clinic
- representativesrepresentative, delegate, lawyer, deputy, rep
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- legalesehereby, herein, hereinafter, hereof, hereto
pro serepresented
Stood in for another
counseled · lawyered up · attorney · lawyer · counsel
prosecutor, prosecute, prosecution, prosecutors, prosecuting, prosecutorial