Here are some tips for replying to an email asking for legal advice or consultation:
Be upfront that you cannot provide legal advice
• State clearly that you are not able to provide any legal advice or counsel. Make it clear you are not a lawyer.
• Explain that providing legal advice without proper qualifications could get you in trouble.
Offer alternatives and resources
• Suggest they contact a licensed attorney who specializes in the relevant area of law.
• Provide links/referrals to legal aid clinics or pro bono legal service programs in their community. These provide free or low-cost legal help.
• If relevant, note there may be government agencies, regulatory bodies, or non-profits that can assist with certain legal issues. Provide any specifics you can.
Apologize and empathize
• Apologize for not being able to directly help. Express you understand their situation is difficult.
• If possible, validate the emotions they may be feeling and say you hope they can find an appropriate solution.
Optionally provide general info, but no advice
• While being very careful not to advise, you may be able to guide them to online legal resources. Provide links to reputable legal sites.
• Give tips for finding and vetting lawyers – but don’t recommend specific lawyers.
The free Chrome extension superReply can help take the stress out of saying “no” to inappropriate email requests. It provides pre-written templates to politely decline requests or refer people to more appropriate resources. Installing superReply ensures you always have the right words ready when you need them.