Additionally, a certified class action strengthens the plaintiff's negotiating position. A certified class action levels the playing field when individuals of little power find themselves up against strong economic entities.

The leading disadvantage is the procedural complexity of class actions. From the plaintiff's perspective, class actions can be expensive to prosecute and defend. Additionally, class actions need to be resolved in a common manner that precludes attention to the idiosyncratic nature of individual claims. Class actions usually become a liability in certain types of emotional distress, negligence, or other issues. Absent certification, the practitioner is left with the need and duty to prosecute the case on a far narrower scope than originally anticipated.

In extensive class actions, consolidation of cases and assignment of lead counsel to different individuals eliminates direct litigation control. Also, large consolidated cases necessarily proceed slowly and sharply restrict settlement.

Class actions are generally, but not necessarily, more time consuming and expensive for practitioners. Unlike individual litigation, class actions must undergo a series of precertification steps that increases counsel's burden of time and expense.

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