Legal proceedings are complex matters.  Further, employees of the Court are lawfully precluded from dispensing advice.  Therefore, in representing yourself you would have to effectively navigate through the Rules of Evidence, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Court, understand the law as it pertains to your particular issue, as well as the general process of what litigation entails, and equally comprehend any standing Orders set by the assigned Judge or Magistrate.  

Consequently, by retaining an experienced Attorney all of those responsibilities will be handled for your benefit, and your only obligation would then be to cooperate through that process and provide your legal counsel the information and/or documentation that they may require to effectively resolve your proceeding.  At the same time, they will be able to protect your interests and also attain an optimal result for your related benefit.