Do you have to have a lawyer to settle a lawsuit against a credit card co--i want to settle the suit,pay the money and not go to court.

No, you are not required to have a lawyer represent you.  It may be in your best interest to consult an attorney to protect your rights, but you are not required to hire an attorney. This is not intended to be legal advice, and is general in its nature. No attorney-client relationship exists or is formed by this information. Furthermore, this does not represent the views or opinions of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.