Without a Lawyer
Without a Lawyer is a nonfiction book written by Gouverneur Morris that provides practical advice on how to handle legal issues without the need for an attorney. The book covers various topics, including contracts, wills and estates, family law, real estate, and small claims court. It also includes sample forms and templates to help readers navigate common legal situations.
By Gouverneur Morris · First published 1936 · Genre: Legal Drama, Western, Crime · 3,075 words
First lines
However bright the court's light may have appeared to the court, the place in which it was shining smelt damnably of oil. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, but already the Alaskan night had descended. The court sat in a barn, warmed from without by the heavily drifted snow and from within by the tiny flames of lanterns and the breathing of men, horses, and cows. Here and there in the outskirts of the circle of light could be seen the long face of a horse or the horned head of a cow. There was a steady sound of munching. The scene was not unlike many paintings of the stable in Bethlehem on the night of the Nativity. And here, too, justice was being born in a dark age. There had been too many sudden deaths, too many jumped claims, too much drinking, too much shooting, too many strong men, too few weak men, until finally -- for time, during the long winter, hung upon the neck like a millstone -- the gorges of the more decent had risen.
What this Textopian page supports
Without a Lawyer is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gouverneur Morris, dated 1936 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gouverneur Morris
- Date: 1936 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Legal Drama, Western, Crime, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 3,075 words
- Structure: 1 section, 81 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Without a Lawyer by Gouverneur Morris
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Without a Lawyer?
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Similar titles
- Every Man His Own Lawyer by Samuel Warren
- The Law Of The Land by Fred M. White
- The Case For The Crown by Fred M. White
- Circumstantial Evidence by Samuel Warren
- At Bow Street Police Court by George Grossmith
- Scenes Criminal Courts by Charles Dickens
Genres
- Legal Drama — The plot centers around a court case, with a judge, jury, and a defendant representing himself, highlighting legal proceedings and justice.
- Western — Set in a rugged, frontier-like Alaskan environment with themes of lawlessness, frontier justice, and survival.
- Crime — The narrative revolves around a murder case, with elements of crime investigation and courtroom drama.
- Romance — The story includes romantic elements, particularly the relationship between Lou Garou and Jenny, culminating in a marriage proposal.
Tags
legal · law · justice · court · litigation · advocacy · rights · representation · dispute · resolution · self-representation · legal advice