Actually, at least in California small claims court, a corporation can not be represented by an attorney unless that attorney is also an officer of the corporation. Nor can a private party be represented by an attorney. It's NOT just a question of whether it's at their own expense. An attorney MAY NOT represent folks in small claims court. They can only appear as a party to the suit (hence, the officer of a corporation exception) or PERHAPS as a witness (depending on what they're testifying to.)