First, make sure you show up or else the plaintiff will likely get a default judgment. Once at court, the plaintiff will likely ask if you want to try and work something or the Judge may ask if you and the plaintiff want to go to mediation, to try and resolve this. You can try and resolve this and offer an amount less then what is owed. Another option, would be to ask if you can make partial payments. If nothing can be worked out, the lawsuit will go on. If a judgment is entered against you, the plaintiff could try and garnish your wages, to satisfy the judgment if it is not paid. If this is a civil lawsuit, jail is not going to happen.
If you do not want to fight this, then you do not need a lawyer. You can certainly try and work something out ahead of time. If not, you can try and work something out in court. You can ask for meditation, if you are unable to work things out yourselves. With the debt being $847, try and see if the will settle for half. Explain to them the financial hardships you are facing and see if they will lower the debt.
Attorney
Experience in misdemeanor and felony cases. General legal.