Court Basics

Representing yourself in court can be a daunting task. Understanding how the court works and what resources are available can help make the legal process less overwhelming. The following resources will provide you with a general overview of the court process and will help you to better understand the court system so that you can most effectively resolve your legal issues.

Lawyers and Legal Help

Seeking legal advice and need to contact an attorney, but do not know how? We have resources that can help.

Columbus Bar Association
Search the Columbus Bar Association attorney directory or get an online referral or by calling (614) 221-0754 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM - 5 PM

Columbus Find a Lawyer
Search for local attorneys and legal information

Legal Aid Society Columbus
The Legal Aid Society can only take certain types of cases and parties must qualify. To find out the income qualifications, complete the intake process online or call (614) 241-2001 Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM.

Brief Advice Clinics
If you are representing yourself, but have a question about a legal issue and would like to speak to an attorney, a brief advice clinic may be a good option. Find times, locations, income qualifications, and more information about upcoming clinics.

Patriot Program
For Active Military, Veterans, and their Families ONLY: The Ohio Attorney General's Office provides pro bono (free) services for certain issues, including Service Members Civil Relief Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act of 1994, and creating wills and powers of attorney. Visit their website or call (800) 282-0515.

Mediate Your Dispute

The Dispute Resolution Department provides mediation services for the Court and the public to attempt to resolve disputes out of court.

Mediation is a way to resolve disputes outside of a courtroom with the help of a neutral mediator. The mediator helps parties exchange information and proposals through negotiation. Mediation is private and the mediator can document an agreement in writing for the parties to resolve a case. This process can be much quicker and cheaper than a traditional lawsuit.

Preparing for Court

Preparing effectively for court is very important. We have information and resources that can help.

View more on the Municipal Court Overview Brochure(PDF, 322KB)

Before You Get to the Courtroom

  • Be organized and prepared.
  • Leave all food, drink, and chewing gum outside of the courtroom.
  • If you bring people to the courtroom, be sure they are not disruptive.

Courtroom Behavior

  • Arrive 15 minutes early to the courtroom— remember to leave extra time to get to the courthouse, park, and get through security. If you are late for your hearing, your case may be heard without you.
  • Check in with the Bailiff when you arrive. Once court begins, do not leave unless it is an emergency. You may miss your case.
  • Tell the judge or magistrate if you do not understand a question.
  • When you speak to the judge or magistrate, try to begin or end what you say with "Your Honor," "Sir," or "Ma'am".
  • Dress appropriately to show that you respect the Court and are taking the matter seriously.

Please Remember: Court Staff are here to help you but can only help you in certain ways and must be fair to everyone involved in the case. Self Help staff are not allowed to give legal advice or perform legal research. They can only provide you with basic information or directions.

Researching the Law

External links designed to help you research and learn more about the court process and resources to help resolve your legal issue.

Basic Information

Research Guides

For guides on specific legal issues, visit the LibGuides tab. There are specific guides for 29 different legal issues. Visit the Law Library Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, call at(614) 525-4971, or email the reference librarian.

Looking up the Law

Baldwin's Ohio Revised Code Annotated is available through the Westlaw database and Page's Ohio Revised Code is available through Lexis.

Both print and electronic versions are available at the Franklin County Law Library.

Case Law

Case law can also be found on Westlaw and Lexis accessible at the Franklin County Law Library.

Can't find what you need here? We have created a list of helpful links to help with that.

External Resources

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