What must an individual have in order to proceed with a lawsuit?

To proceed with a lawsuit, an individual must have standing. Standing is a legal concept that ensures a party has a sufficient connection to and interest in the law or legal issue involved. It requires that the person initiating the lawsuit has been personally affected by the issues at hand, which validates their right to seek relief from the court. This often encompasses having suffered an injury or being in a position where the resolution of the issue will directly impact their rights or interests.

Having standing is a fundamental requirement because it prevents individuals from filing lawsuits on matters that do not genuinely affect them, thereby conserving judicial resources and ensuring that courts only hear cases where there is a real dispute.

While legal representation, evidence, and filing fees are significant components of the litigation process, they do not replace the necessity of having standing. An individual might pursue a lawsuit without a lawyer or have insufficient evidence at the outset, but without standing, the court would likely dismiss the case before it could proceed.