So this is a 5 years long battle, had 3 attorneys from top 10 in my city. My ex hired the biggest law firm and they are very aggressive. I had the opportunity to hire them or consult with them but I didn't because they were expensive. looking back, I would have saved hundreds of thousands if I consulted with them just so she can't hire them.

My lawyers get drained. I get drained. those motions are non stop, the amount of evidence and problem is unfathomable, I was paying 10k-20k month in lawyer fees just to not lose custody and stay in the fight. I no longer have a penny, a probably 100k+ in debt.

They say "a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client" I disagree, at least in family court, criminal law. absolutely. 100%. Yes a lawyer, know procedure better, knows the judges and how to talk to them, they know how to frame things. you can learn that too.

The biggest advantage as prose

This is what I did, I got all my documents, years of legal paperwork, evidence, organized them on a drive. set up a project with multiple pipeline using AI. know I can connect the dot like my lawyer can't. I know my case better than my own lawyer and hers. I structure my evidence build strategy, filed everything online, no emotions, just execution. I don't talk, I show evidence. You know the facts better than any lawyer ever would. Your knowledge of the history of your marriage is an asset no hired attorney can replicate