While there are some cases that you may be able to handle without a lawyer, you typically should get the assistance of a lawyer if there is any relatively large amount of money at stake, and/or if you are facing a lawsuit that is not fairly straightforward.  Many states have small claims courts that are specifically designed for people to file lawsuits without attorneys, although these courts are typically limited to certain simple types of lawsuits and/or those lawsuits seeking a certain amount of monetary damages.  Outside of small claims court, however, filing a lawsuit involves a great deal of paperwork, rules, and procedures that must be strictly followed.  As a result, you should definitely consult an attorney about filing any sort of lawsuit, except perhaps for those that are appropriate for small claims court.