Can I represent myself in the Court of Magistrates in a civil case in Malta?

Self-representation is generally permitted in Maltese civil proceedings, including before the Court of Magistrates (Civil), and there is no absolute legal requirement to be represented by a lawyer for most civil matters, so you are entitled to represent yourself if you choose to. That said, civil procedure in Malta, governed by the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, Chapter 12 of the Laws of Malta, does involve specific formal requirements around how claims must be filed, evidence presented, and procedural deadlines observed, and navigating these correctly without legal training can be genuinely challenging, with procedural mistakes sometimes weakening an otherwise valid claim regardless of its underlying merit. For a genuinely straightforward, lower-value claim, self-representation, or using the more simplified process of the Small Claims Tribunal if your claim falls within its monetary limit, can be a reasonable and cost-effective approach, but for anything involving more complex facts, contested evidence, or a significant amount of money, even a limited consultation with a lawyer beforehand, even if you ultimately proceed largely on your own, can help you avoid costly procedural missteps.