Navigating the Legal Landscape: How Many Lawyers Do You Need to Sue Someone in Court?

As a personal injury lawyer with extensive experience, I can guide you on the number of lawyers typically needed to sue someone in court. Generally, the answer is simpler than you might think - one lawyer is usually sufficient. This often holds true for most lawsuits, especially in personal injury cases, where a single attorney can handle all aspects of your case from filing the lawsuit to representing you in court.

One Lawyer Is Usually Sufficient

For most lawsuits, especially in personal injury cases, a single attorney is typically all that is required. This lawyer will handle all aspects of your case, from filing the lawsuit to representing you in court. However, in very complex cases, such as those involving multiple parties, intricate legal issues, or large sums of money, it might be beneficial to have a legal team. This team can consist of multiple lawyers with different areas of expertise to manage various aspects of your case.

Law Firm Resources and Client Discretion

When you hire a lawyer from a firm, you’re not just getting the expertise of one attorney; you’re also gaining access to the resources of the entire firm. This can include paralegals, legal assistants, and other lawyers who can contribute their expertise as needed. Clients have the discretion to choose the number of lawyers they wish to hire. Some clients feel more comfortable with a team approach, especially in high-stakes litigation, while others prefer the singular focus of one attorney.

Cost Considerations

It's important to consider the cost of legal representation. Hiring multiple lawyers can be more expensive, so it's essential to balance the complexity of your case with your budget and legal needs. In most cases, one lawyer is enough to sue someone in court. However, depending on the complexity of your case, you might benefit from a team of lawyers. Your decision should be based on the specifics of your case, your comfort level, and your budget.

It depends on what the objectives are. If you want to recover a small amount of monetary damages, you could represent yourself in small claims court. This is called pro se representation and is common in small claims courts which typically adjudicate matters where a relatively low dollar amount is in question. For example, the amount cannot exceed $3,000 in New Jersey. In the United States, under 28 U.S.C. § 1654, it says: 'In all courts of the United States, the parties may plead and conduct their cases personally or by counsel as by the rules of such courts, respectively, are permitted to manage and conduct causes therein.'

Pro Se Litigation in Historical Context

There are famous examples of successful pro se litigants that have impacted American law. In Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus Store Inc. (1957), the Minnesota Supreme Court sided with a plaintiff who represented himself in a breach of contract action involving an advertisement offering 1.00 fur coats to anyone who showed up on a given Saturday morning. When Lefkowitz showed up, the retailer refused to sell him the coats and he sued. The court held that the advertainment was a valid offer, and their failure to provide the coats constituted a breach.

However, most pro se litigation isn't successful. As Abraham Lincoln famously put it, 'The man who represents himself has a fool for a client.' The rules of civil procedure can be tricky and not easy to navigate without training and experience.

The Attorney of Record

In practical terms, the answer to the question is that you need one lawyer admitted to the bar within the jurisdiction you want to sue in. This lawyer would begin with drafting a complaint and could do so according to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 11a, which states: 'Every pleading, written motion, and other paper must be signed by at least one attorney of record. In the attorney’s name—or by a party personally if the party is unrepresented. The paper must state the signer’s address, email address, and telephone number. Emphasis added.'

You're fine if you have a single attorney to draft, sign, and deliver the documents. This will be the lawyer of record and will continue to advocate on your behalf and take the case to trial if needed. Civil litigation often ends in a settlement. If you're awarded monetary damages, that lawyer will be entitled to a share of the winnings, typically 1/3rd, and any applicable fees you negotiate upfront.

In the case of complex litigation, you may need many more lawyers to handle various aspects of a civil suit, and the legal team can balloon in size. In court, you may see two or more lawyers at the counsel table, with many more specialists employed in witness preparation, discovery, jury selection, media representation, and other tasks. If you've ever seen The Social Network or the Netflix documentary series Pepsi Where's My Jet, you'll get a sense of how complex civil litigation can take on a life of its own.

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, 2010.