The question of whether to hire a lawyer for unlawful detainer is a good one.   There are many avenues of self-help for landlord’s and tenants facing unlawful detainer actions.   For example, yesterday, I was in the Orange County Superior Court and saw that they have a pamphlet that helps litigants guide their way through the unlawful detainer process.

Here are a few reasons why you should hire a lawyer for unlawful detainer actions:

1.  They will know the nuances and intricacies of the law and more importantly – unlawful detainer procedure.

2.  Unlawful detainers are a very procedure oriented process.  One misstep and your case could be lost.

3.  Lawyers know the rules of evidence and can help get key evidence in at trial.

4.  A lawyer may be able to come up with a theory that would allow you to recover the the cost of the lawyer.

5.  The lawyer can negotiate (and get a return call) from the opposing counsel.

The bottom line is that unlawful detainers can be litigated without the use of a lawyer.  The only problem is you reduce your likelihood of winning.