The new do-it-yourself legal movement.

• Author: Caskey, Susan

HE WHO represents himself in legal matters, goes the old adage, has a fool for a client. Don't tell that to Richard Amann. He hired an attorney to force the local school district to provide services for his learning disabled son, spending more than $20,000 on legal fees. Amann lost the suit. He is angry, not at having to use a lawyer, but at not being told that his attorney lacked real experience in the area of educational disability law. Amann claims that he was "snookered"; he never really had a chance against the school district's more experienced lawyers.

Following this case, Amann signed up for a class in child advocacy given by a statewide organization for youngsters with disabilities. The 10-day course taught him how to represent other parents in cases like his own. Since that time, Amann successfully has represented dozens of families of disabled children, many of whom can not afford lawyers, helping them regain the rights being denied to them. Amann maintains that "A parent will get better representation from me than almost any attorney in the state, with the exception of maybe a dozen or so who specialize in educational law. Having a trained representative means parents can no longer be buffaloed by the school district, which in most cases will settle out of court." The only case Amann has lost so far has been his own on appeal.

Growing numbers of people feel that the real fool is the client who pays a lawyer too much money for little or no results. Where nearly all other purchases of goods and services are concerned, American consumers pride themselves on being smart shoppers, getting the best services for the best price. Yet, even in today's competition-oriented atmosphere, those seeking access to the legal system have only two real choices: to represent themselves unaided or hire an attorney. With lawyers' hourly fees costing 10 or 15 times the average worker's hourly wage, the decision often is made for them.

Polls abound showing that Americans believe attorneys are priced too high for the services they provide. The National Law Journal reports that 43% of respondents say lawyers charge too much for their services. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed by the American Bar Association (ABA) said lawyers charge too much.

The problem is not just one of perception. Despite the growing numbers of attorneys, many individuals are underrepresented. A report commissioned by the ABA in 1989 found that more than 28% of low-income respondents were unable to hire a lawyer for civil matters due to cost. The ABA estimates that more than 100,000,000 Americans of all income levels are not receiving the legal services they require. Some groups put that...