The more you know about what is happening to you and your family, the less dependant on an attorney you will be. You might hear that the court does not like pro se individuals. Actually, the court doesn t like pro se people who show up without a lawyer and no nothing about the law and the protocol. The are simply a nuisance when so unprepared. LBU can teach you to be a competent pro se individual.
Many judges allow a pro se litigant to testify in narrative.
In fact they should require you to ask yourself question and answer to allow the opposing side an opportunity to object to the form of the question. Opposing counsel is generally too stupid or arrogant to know this so a pro se can get almost anything in front of a jury unless it is excluded on a motion in limine. The judge cannot forbid you from access to your case notes since this is effectively denying you an opportunity to be heard. After all you need to make notes of what issues you need to raise or respond to during cross. A pro se litigant in front of a jury may consider having a third party read prepared questions to them while you are on the stand.