In court, a party who represents themselves is described as what?

• A. Pro se
• B. Pro bono
• C. Pro per
• D. In propria persona

Answer: (A)

Self-representation in court is described as pro se. This term comes from Latin and means “for oneself,” and it is the standard designation used in U.S. courts to indicate a party is representing themselves without an attorney.

Pro bono refers to legal services provided for free by a lawyer, not to a party acting without counsel. Pro per and in propria persona are related ideas used in some jurisdictions to describe self-representation, but pro se is the most widely recognized term across courts and exams.