The right to a court-appointed attorney generally applies to criminal cases where a person's liberty is at stake, but it does not typically extend to civil disputes, even ones involving significant money or important rights like housing or custody.

This means that in most civil cases, whether you have a lawyer largely depends on your ability to pay, find a lawyer willing to take the case on alternative terms, or qualify for free or reduced-cost legal help.

For cases seeking money damages, such as personal injury or certain employment claims, many attorneys will take a case on a contingency-fee basis, meaning they are paid a percentage of any recovery instead of billing by the hour upfront.

Not every type of case is well suited to a contingency arrangement, since attorneys generally only take contingency cases they believe have a reasonable chance of resulting in a meaningful recovery.

Legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost representation to qualifying individuals, often prioritizing cases involving housing, domestic violence, or other essential needs, though funding and eligibility criteria vary by location and organization.

Law school legal clinics, staffed by supervised students, and bar association referral services offering reduced-fee consultations can also be useful resources for people who don't qualify for traditional legal aid but still face cost barriers.

Many courts provide self-help centers, standardized forms, and procedural guides specifically designed for people representing themselves, particularly in high-volume areas like small claims and family court.

Representing yourself means you are held to the same procedural and evidentiary rules as a licensed attorney, so it can be a significant undertaking in a complex case, even with available self-help resources.