Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania

Re: Who can represent a defendant?

Sometimes a relative might go to court to tell the court that the defendant has become violently ill. But no one but a lawyer can give a substantive response or participate in the proceedings.

Re: Who can represent a defendant?

By definition, a lawyer is someone licensed to represent the interests of others in court. Since representing someone else in court is practicing law and since practicing law without a license is illegal, your character will have to pass himself off as an attorney. And if his secret is revealed at the end of the movie, he will probably spend most of the sequel behind bars.

Re: Who can represent a defendant?

Remember the Rainmaker. DaVito filled in for Damon but was not a licensed lawyer. Only a lawyer can represent another in court, it's pretty much that simple. In My Cousin Vinny, I think Pesci was using the name of a licensed attorney without his permission - like identity theft.

Re: Who can represent a defendant?

Be careful... your query reminded me of a movie with a similar plot, where Michael Richards played the "character" who pretended to be a lawyer to help a sick friend. A quick IMDB search gave me the title, "Trial and Error".

Re: Who can represent a defendant?

Only a licensed attorney can represent another person in court. It's unauthorized practice of law for a non-lawyer to do so. If you want to send your character to jail for unauthorized practice, contempt of court, etc., then you can let the non-lawyer represent your character.

Re: Who can represent a defendant?

Only the client or an attorney may appear in court. Impersonating an attorney in court will land you in jail.