COACHING MODEL

Small claims, consultation or flat fee, A-Z.

California prohibits attorneys in small claims court — but you can hire one to prepare you. Paid consultation for $350 or $1,000 flat-fee coaching package which includes drafting, filing, service of process, evidence assembly, and filing.

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• 24 hours or less for most responses

WHY COACHING?

California small claims doesn't allow attorneys — but you can hire one to prepare you.

California law (Code of Civil Procedure section 116.530) prohibits attorneys from appearing on a party's behalf in small claims court. The court is intentionally designed for individuals representing themselves on disputes up to $12,500.

What's not prohibited — and is often overlooked — is hiring an attorney to coach you behind the scenes. Strategy, evidence organization, document drafting, presentation rehearsal. The court only sees you. The preparation is privileged.

For matters where the dispute amount is meaningful but doesn't justify full representation, the coaching model produces dramatically better outcomes than going in unprepared.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

The four parts of small claims flat fee services.

Every engagement covers all four. Convenient, time-saving, and effective.

01

Case consultation

Begin with a paid consultation. If you decide to move forward with our flat fee service, the consultation fee is waived. A case consultation is an important step to determine whether you have a strong small claims case or determine whether you need to hire us for all steps in between.

02

Paperwork preparation

The plaintiff's claim form (SC-100) or defendant's response. Properly stated claims with the right legal language make a real difference at trial.

03

Filing and Service of Process

We take care of filing and service of process, both tedious and time consuming tasks for someone navigating the court system for the first time.

04

Evidence Assembly and Filing

Evidence assembly is the most important part of your case. The evidence tells the story. Sometimes the court will only give you 5 minutes to present your evidence. We help you determine what is most important to put your best foot forward in the courtroom.

All four parts are included in the standard $1,000 flat fee package. Most matters require no additional time. For matters needing more — appellate review (small claims appeals get a new trial in superior court), pre-hearing settlement negotiation, or post-judgment collection assistance — we quote those separately.

IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The right cases for flat fee services.

  • Your dispute amount is between $1,500 and $12,500

  • You have specific evidence that needs to be organized and presented effectively

  • You don’t have the time to figure it out and rather have an attorney handle it for you

  • The other party may have an attorney or experience with the process

  • You're nervous about the hearing and want to walk in confident

  • You've never been in small claims court before

COMMON QUESTIONS

About small claims services.

  • No. California Code of Civil Procedure section 116.530 prohibits attorneys from appearing on behalf of a party in small claims court. Both parties must represent themselves. But there's no prohibition on hiring an attorney to coach you behind the scenes — strategy, document preparation, and presentation rehearsal are all permitted. While attorneys are permitted on appeal, it is a usually cost prohibitive arrangement.

  • Individuals can sue for up to $12,500 in California small claims court. Businesses are limited to $6,250. The court is intended for relatively simple disputes that don't require the procedural complexity of regular civil court.

  • $1,000 flat for our standard flat fee package — covers consultation, paperwork prep, filing, service of process, and evidence assembly and filing. Most matters don't require additional time. Filing fees and other court costs are not included in that flat fee.

  • Hearings are short — usually 10-15 minutes. The plaintiff presents first, the defendant responds, the judge asks questions, and a decision is typically rendered within a few days. Strict rules of evidence don't apply, but careful preparation of what you'll say and what evidence to bring matters significantly.

  • Defendants can appeal a small claims judgment to superior court within 30 days; the appeal gets a full new trial. Plaintiffs cannot appeal a loss. If you're a defendant and the judgment went against you, we can help with the appeal process — but the appeal is a separate engagement.

HOW IT WORKS

From intake to action in three steps.

1

Tell us the situation

Tell us what's going on. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help.

2

Get your price up front

You'll see the exact number before you sign. No surprise invoices.

3

We get to work

Quick engagement agreement, paid online. Most work begins within a week. Status updates by email or text.