We have all been hammering home that we should not give legal advice and that this is an unlawful exercise of the law, a criminal offence. However, we are probably all guilty of crossing this line occasionally, often unintentionally, in our efforts to provide good service to our customers. LawHelp.org – Find free legal aid programs in your community. Here you will find information about your legal rights by topic, e.g. housing, divorce, family allowances and debt collection. Paralegals play a very important role in the firm. Although we cannot offer legal advice, we still take on many tasks to support the firm. A paralegal is able to refer all your questions to the lawyer to provide you with the information you need. This is beneficial for the client because paralegals cost less than a lawyer.

We are often able to answer you faster than the lawyer. If you contact Morneau Law, a paralegal will answer your call. You can ask a legal question, but you will be told that the paralegal cannot give you legal advice. What for? The main reason a paralegal cannot answer your legal question is Rule 5.3 of the New Hampshire Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct. Only a licensed lawyer can provide legal advice. It is considered an unauthorized exercise of rights if a paralegal gives legal advice. The Bowen Legal Aid Fellowship was initiated and led by two legal assistants from MMLA`s housing unit, Alisha Bowen and Luz Lopez Rosas, to support staff from traditionally underrepresented communities who wish to become lawyers. These $25,000 scholarships will help cover tuition, fees and other school-related expenses for qualified staff entering law school. The scholarship aims to reduce racial disparities and support various employees [LRL1] who wish to advance their legal careers.

Thanks to generous donations from the community, MMLA employees can take bold steps to achieve their professional goals. Often, clients ask me a question to which the answer turns into legal advice. In these cases, I explain to the client that they need to discuss it with the lawyer, but that I will pass on their question. Often the lawyer asks me to say something specific to the client. I then make sure to tell the client that the lawyer asked me to tell the client everything the lawyer said so that it is clear that the information came from the lawyer. Your donation allows low-income citizens to get their legal questions answered from volunteer attorneys licensed in their state. Each year, the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service offers the Summer Associate Challenge to law firms that provide pro bono legal services through ABA Free Legal Answers. Examples that don`t constitute real legal advice: After a few months at Morneau Law, I came across frequently asked questions. Some questions are: « May I… » « , or « What should I do… ». In both cases, the client seeks legal advice. A paralegal cannot answer these strategic legal questions for clients.

However, we can get the lawyer`s answers and communicate the response to the clients. Read the news on ABA Free Legal Answers, which gives eligible users the opportunity to ask civil law questions to pro bono lawyers. Their support puts legal aid and hope where it is needed most, through projects such as mobile justice buses in the greater Minnesota area. In addition to asking friends and family for the name of a good lawyer or checking the phone book, you can find legal help online. Paralegals play an important role on our team and will be happy to help you arrange a consultation with one of our lawyers to help you with your family law, estate planning or estate administration needs. We serve the greater Nashua area. From a legal point of view, legal advice is synonymous with the practice of law, and only a licensed lawyer with whom a legal relationship has been entered into can give real legal advice. Due to the obligations arising from the provision of such legal advice, the adviser is also bound by certain rights and obligations on the basis of the information provided. Pension Entitlement Centre – Get free legal help if you have problems with your pension, profit-sharing or retirement savings.

I recently came across a quote that seemed to provide a good dividing line between legal advice and answering a client`s questions: Pro Bono and Free Legal Aid – Finding Free or Low-Income Legal Help. Family and friends often ask us to give legal advice or simply say what we would do in a particular situation. Even reasonable suggestions should be avoided, as other recommendations from someone with a legal background naturally give more weight. Keep the local legal placement or legal aid number handy, or offer to recommend a lawyer. Many lawyers offer initial consultations for $100 or less. Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic. Eligible users post their civil law question on their state`s website. Lawyers provide basic legal information and advice without expecting long-term representation. The website improves access to advice and information on non-criminal legal matters for those who cannot afford a lawyer. No fees are charged for the use of the system or for the advice and information provided by the lawyer. National Disability Rights Network – Find legal advice by state for people with disabilities. Persons who provide legal advice, voluntarily or unknowingly, without having the skill, judgment or authority to do so, are essentially engaged in unauthorized legal practice and are therefore subject to judicial sanctions.

1 West`s Paralegal Today, 2nd edition, Miller and Urisko On sites like this, people often worry about non-lawyers « giving legal advice » or « practicing law without a license. » What exactly constitutes such actions? I`m particularly interested in the situation in the United States, as that`s where the StackExchange servers are located. Originally published in the Texas Paralegal Journal © Copyright Paralegal Division, Texas State Bar. Upsolve – Find free legal help to declare bankruptcy. Keep in mind that Chapter 7 bankruptcy information remains on your credit file for 10 years. This can make it difficult to get loans, buy a home, get life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy and other options for dealing with debt. the provision of technical or formal advice on the content or procedure of the law in relation to a particular situation. Legal Assistance for Veterans – Find free legal clinics and other resources from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Depending on the situation, legal advice and information may be helpful.

While some situations require the advice of a lawyer – such as filing a lawsuit or defending criminal charges – other situations may simply warrant obtaining legal information. Read the definitions of areas of practice for legal information on a specific topic or look for a lawyer in your area for legal advice on a specific legal issue. Need help with a legal problem, but can`t afford a lawyer? We have your answer! ABA Free Legal Answers is a website where you can ask your questions about civil (non-criminal) legal issues and get answers from pro bono lawyers in your state. Legal questions are submitted online – all you need is an internet connection. Volunteer lawyers are able to answer your questions outside of normal business hours – you don`t have to go to a clinic or legal aid office. Before giving legal information to a client, friend or family member, you should consider whether what you say directly affects that person`s decision, which may affect that person`s legal rights or position. The surest answer to any question is to advise him to speak to a lawyer. Unlike legal information, legal advice refers to written or oral legal assistance in a legal case that would infringe the rights and obligations of the person receiving the advice. In addition, real legal advice requires careful analysis of the law as it applies to a person`s particular situation – as opposed to speculation based on general facts.