California CodesCode of Civil Procedure - CCPPart 1 — Of Courts of JusticeTitle 1 — Organization and JurisdictionChapter 5.5 — Small Claims CourtArticle 5 — HearingSection 116.530
(a) Except as permitted by this section, no attorney may take part in the conduct or defense of a small claims action.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply if the attorney is appearing to maintain or defend an action in any of the following capacities:
(1) By or against himself or herself.
(2) By or against a partnership in which he or she is a general partner and in which all the partners are attorneys.
(3) By or against a professional corporation of which he or she is an officer or director and of which all other officers and directors are attorneys.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prevent an attorney from doing any of the following:
(1) Providing advice to a party to a small claims action, either before or after the commencement of the action.
(2) Testifying to facts of which he or she has personal knowledge and about which he or she is competent to testify.
(3) Representing a party in an appeal to the superior court.
(4) Representing a party in connection with the enforcement of a judgment.
Notes
Prohibits attorneys from taking part in conducting or defending small claims actions except when appearing personally or for specified all-attorney partnerships or professional corporations. Attorneys may still advise a party, testify from personal knowledge, represent a party on superior-court appeal, or represent a party in judgment enforcement.
Use as reference
Lexinter.net | California Code, Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 116.530 | https://laws.lexinter.net/codes/california/code-of-civil-procedure/part-1/title-1/chapter-5-5/article-5/section-116-530