Pro se - Wikipedia's definition. This is a new word I've been exposed to.

Can you dig it, "pro se."

Pro se - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Pro se is a Latin adjective meaning 'for self', that is applied to someone who represents himself (or herself) without a lawyer in a court proceeding, whether as a defendant or a plaintiff and whether the matter is civil or criminal. Most courts allow people to appear in court and submit legal documents pro se, but some prohibit legal 'persons' such as corporations from appearing without representation. Pro se litigants are usually able to obtain assistance from a pro se clerk, or in very limited circumstances, the judge may even give certain advice from the bench on how to navigate the law.

The decision to appear pro se may sometimes be one of necessity, given the cost of legal representation.