The line between "legal advice" and "legal information" is often blurred. As a general matter, only a lawyer may give actual legal advice, whereas any non-lawyer may recite legal information. Furthermore, it is generally illegal for a non-lawyer or unlicensed attorney to offer legal advice or otherwise represent someone other than himself or herself in a court of law.

Legal information

Staff should answer questions that call for factual information – questions that start with “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” or “how.”

Staff should inform students of their options and the steps needed to carry out an option.

Educating the student or potential student

Legal advice

Staff should not answer questions that call for an opinion about what a student should do – questions that contain the words “should” or “whether.”

Staff should not suggest which option the student should pursue.

Guiding or directing the student or potential student

Click here to download the handout Legal Information vs. Legal Advice