Small claims courts are included in each state’s court system and are designed for the resolution of disputes involving a limited dollar amount—and for the parties to the dispute to represent themselves (pro se). Small claims courts are often referred to as the People’s Court, and some states such as California prohibit attorneys from representing parties in small claims court. The limit on the amount of money in dispute (the jurisdictional limit) varies from state to state within a range of $2,500 to $25,000—but is usually between $5,000 and $15,000. The disputes filed in small claims courts are often seeking to recover a debt or involving residential landlord-tenant disputes. Judges in small claims courts in some states are called Justices of the Peace, and the courts are sometimes referred to as JP courts.

In Mississippi, small claims courts are known as Justice Courts, and they handle cases involving disputes up to a certain monetary limit, which is $3,500. These courts are designed to be accessible to the general public, allowing individuals to represent themselves without the need for an attorney, which is known as 'pro se' representation. The types of cases typically heard in Mississippi's Justice Courts include those seeking to recover debts, personal property, and landlord-tenant disputes. While attorneys are not prohibited from representing parties in Mississippi's small claims courts, the simplified procedures and lower stakes often make self-representation more practical and cost-effective for the parties involved.