If one can choose to represent theirself in a court of law, why can't someone with a working knowledge of the law represent another person, as long as that person consents of course? There are enough people who have very specific knowledge in certain areas that a traditional lawyer would fall short on, and if that person wants to represent someone they know in a court of law for a fee or for free, what's stopping them? I am all for certifications when safety is concerned - but when it comes to something that can be learned through publicly available data, and if someone doesn't have the money and doesn't wish to use the prosecutor's bitch, also known as the public defender, then another option - an unlicensed lawyer - should be an allowable option. One on the other side of the fence would argue that it would turn the court room into a circus filled with people who are unfamiliar with the process, but if someone can ultimately prove innocence or guilt better than a traditional lawyer at a more reasonable price, that's all that really matters.
is that legal? to consult a homie when you are arrested? or have him appear in court with/for you? i like the thought though.