Not every lawsuit is settled in front of a jury. When a lawsuit is under a certain amount, it can be resolved in small claims court in front of a judge. While many plaintiffs do not hire a lawyer before going to small claims court, there are several ways you can benefit from hiring a lawyer.

You Can Always consult with a Lawyer

In some states, you are allowed to hire a lawyer to represent you in small claims court. However, even if you are not allowed to have a lawyer represent you during your court case, you will still be able to consult with a lawyer.

Hiring a lawyer is a great idea if your case will not be straightforward. Some small claims court cases are surprisingly short, and you may be in front of the judge for less than an hour. However, others can be long and drawn out as you will be forced to present a large amount of evidence to prove your case.

A Lawyer Can Sometimes Represent You

A lawyer will help you present evidence that will increase the odds that your small court claim will be successful. For example, if you are filing a lawsuit to recover property that belongs to you, your lawyer can help you prove that the property belonged to you in the first place.

If the other party owes you money because you provided a service, you will need to present evidence that the service occurred and that you had an agreement in which you were promised to be paid.

The Consequences of Not Hiring a Lawyer

If you do not hire a lawyer, you will need to invest more time into your case because you will have to research the law and will also need to gather the information that is necessary to win your case. This can be more difficult when you are not a trained legal professional who has experience with small claim cases.

There is a limit to how much you can receive through small claims court. However, if the judgment you will receive is very large, it might be worth the cost of hiring a lawyer. Also, you might care about winning your case so you will be able to send a message to the defendant. While you have a right to file and create your own legal argument, you might find that your case doesn't go in the direction you expect it to.

For more information about small claims, contact a local firm, such as Alaska Cascade Financial Services.