Introductions

[STIDW]

Resolution started a thread suggesting we introduced ourselves which appears to have disappeared.

I think it's a good idea knowing posters backgrounds so there are no misunderstandings, I've been mistaken for a lawyer, feminazi (whatever that is), a man etc etc. Actually I'm a Jill-of-all-trades having qualified and worked in technology, then occupational therapy and more recently I've been self employed. I'm divorced and have two young adult children living with me.

Some years ago when I first came to the internet looking for information about family law I was appalled at the unreliability of information, advice and guidance which often encouraged posters to engage in malicious, destructive and unproductive strategies with disastrous results. In those days there weren't many lawyers around to correct the inaccuracies and it took a great deal of research and listening to others to piece together the information and make sense of it.

Perhaps the mods removed Resolution's post because he said he was a lawyer and a poster perceived that as touting for business. I think that is very short sighted because lawyers who have not only studied the law for years, completed on the job training, undergo further training year in year out but also have experience of court work day in day out are in the best position to challenge misconceptions. The lawyers here are private citizens who contribute in their own time. They are supportive and in the spirit of MN assist posters in their parenting by helping them make informed decisions. I think their contributions should be welcomed.

[Resolution]

I've just completed my profile and made it public. That might be a better way to go if I can't put it in a thread.

[emsyj]

I am a solicitor, although my area of practice is fairly technical and esoteric and not relevant to most of the posts on here.

I did do private client work for a brief period (2.5 years) and so have given some input on threads where my knowledge in that area is relevant.

[mumoverseas]

For what its worth, I thought Resolutions thread was a good idea

[Resolution]

Probably not long before the threads removed. Have been told to change my profile, and while I wait for clarification about what I can and can't post, don't know whether I have to keep my profession secret or my location secret or both.

If the former, I don't think I'll be able to post without someone thinking I'm touting for work. Apparently I am said to be promoting my services.

[STIDW]

That's ridiculous and just shows a lack of joined up thinking. How can you promote your services if you don't give a name or contact details?

[RailwayChild]

I think the difficulty with 'advertising' your profession is that you give advice with the weight of your profession but without the responsibility and consequences normally associated? (depending on the way you advertise I guess)

I'd like to add at this point that resolution is a person (man?!?...thought you were female :o) who's advice I value and I'm not aiming this at you.

I lurk a lot and find it's obvious from lurking who gives consistent measured responsible advice.

There is a thread in Divorce with someone claiming to be a lawyer and their advice is not helpful (not the recent wally who has posted a lot here)

I do think posters have to build their profile and reputation on a forum as well as declare their interest because their is nothing to police malicious or mischievous declaration. Readers should then look at their 'form' before acting upon advice they read.

[RailwayChild]

I am a mother who can't afford a solicitor

[Lulumama]

problem is, that anyone could say they are a lawyer. and short of sending copies of your qualifications in to MNHQ, there's not much you can do.

obviously, wrt to resolution, his posts are clearly well though out and are giving good, correct info and does challenge the numpties talking crap

I think if people need legal advice for their own personal situation the advice should always end with

'and seek independent legal advice/see the CAB' etc....

as this is the internet and people do lie or perhaps exaggerate their qualifications /experience

I did a law degree, but never practiced, and I know more about childbirth than law, but techinically, I am 'qualified' to an extent in law.

but I don't see why any lawyer on here who has given good advice should be penalised in anyway.

[mumoverseas]

Well I for one will be spending far less time on here in future and more time on Family Law Week doing my CPD

[Resolution]

Re the CAB - I do an advice session there once a month, and you don't get much more than you get on here. They can't represent you, and it's more of a signposting service if people are at the start of cay contact or finance/divorce cases.

Sometimes there are people who come in with a specific question, and it's often possible to answer and deal with it there and then, which is great.

But otherwise, the CAB and this message board is no place to be turning to if you have an ongoing case and want to be guided through it.

[Portofino]

I think the issue here is that if someone takes advice from someone who is giving it from a professional POV, and it all goes tits up, there might be a potential case against MNHQ. Hence the warnings at the top of many of the topics about obtaining professional advice in RL.

[Portofino]

The same would go for medical advice I guess. There are many doctors/nurses on here, but beyond maybe a hint at diagnosis - the recommendation should always be to see you GP for example.

[mumblechum1]

I'm a lawyer (Member of the Institute of Legal Executives), qualified in 1988 and work p/t in private practice as a Family and Wills specialist and also run a freelance will writing business (don't do probate though).

I agree that quite often we can help when people are stuck on filling in their divorce petition, Form E etc but sometimes posters have been embroiled in really horrifically messy ancilliary relief or CA disputes which have been going on for years and I try to avoid those as it's virtually impossible to give helpful advice based on sketchy info.

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We just wanted to clarify a few things here.

Mumsnet is all about peer-to-peer support - as in sharing the tips, advice and information you've gleaned as a parent (or even as a non-parent) with others who find themselves in more or less the same position as you.

It's NOT about expert advice. We don't have experts on Mumsnet - except quite specifically, by our invitation, in a webchat or a Q&A.

There may be Mumsnetters who have expertise in something in particular and, of course, they are welcome to share that expertise with other Mumsnetters in their posts - but that is quite different to a Mumsnetter setting themselves up as an expert in a particular Topic in order to give out advice that is, by virtue of their experise, meant to be superior to other people's advice.

As Lulumama said earlier on this thread, this is the internet and no one (including us at MNHQ) has any way of checking that anyone who claims to be an expert on something actually does have that expertise, and is using that expertise to give responsible, accurate and reliable advice.

Added to that, there are some people who seek to use their self-styled position as "expert" on a certain Topic to promote or advertise their business/services, either by constantly namechecking it or by posting links to their website/blog or by using the name of their business/company as their Talk nickname.

This would break our Talk Guidelines and, we know from our mailbox, annoy the dickens out of many of you - not to mention those decent eggs who've actually paid to advertise on MN properly.

Hope that makes things a little clearer.

[HelenMumsnet]

@Maryz

Helen, you are glad when people challenge nutters, but sometimes in legal and medical for example, the "experts" have to state their expertise to minimise the effect of the nutters.

Babybarrister, after 15 years aren't you more of a "middleagedbarrister" .

We have ABSOLUTELY no problem with people stating their expertise, whether for "nutter control" or not.

What we do have a problem with is people "setting up shop" in a particular Topic in order to dispense advice.

[mranchovy]

Mumsnet appears to take the stance that the freedom of every individual to post dangerously incorrect advice without challenge is more important to Mumsnet than the interests of vulnerable people who come here for help and support.

This has been raised many times, for instance here, without any official comment to refute that position, although interestingly posts under the names mentioned in that thread or in a similar style did stop at that time and for a period afterwards. Did the culprit lie low for a while? Were they in fact banned and have now got a new IP address from which to continue their bullying?

The words "...a Mumsnetter setting themselves up as an expert in a particular Topic in order to give out advice that is, by virtue of their experise, meant to be superior to other people's advice" are frankly offensive. This is not the problem here, the problem is one individual masquerading as an expert (sometimes) or someone with relevant personal experience (at other times) in order to portray their comments as relevant. In order to expose the difference between the damaging advice that has been given and a more sensibile course of action, posters who know what they are talking about, either through qualification or personal experience, feel that they have to state that qualification or personal experience. This is not "setting themselves up as superior", and I say again that it is offensive of Mumsnet to suggest that it is.

[mranchovy]

Sorry Helen, crossposted with your last post (yes I know, I took a long time over writing it and didn't check for new posts).

It is very helpful to see an official comment on this. IMHO you need to be careful when referring to the "setting up shop" rule as it tends to bring the playground bullies along to hurl insults at the innocent party.

[sneezecakesmum]

Lots of sections on MN are advice forums and the majority of posters offer reasoned advice based often on their own experiences. There are certainly some experts whose advice is greatly valued, but it is down to the OP to sift through the answers and recognise good practice and ignore nonsense (eg the @ man). Unfortunately crazy replies do prompt posters to reveal their profession to refute nonsense advice - its a bit of a no win situation for them in terms of professional promotion.

I am an experienced nurse so I tend to go onto child health more, but I never say ' I am a nurse so do what I say!' The only time I feel I have to come out of hiding is when I hear dangerous advice given.
PS I did a GCSE law to help with the aspect of nursing relating to negligence, and was hooked on the fascination and intricacies of the law.
PPS Resolution - your're a man (gone is the image of black tailored suit and killer heels!)

[Resolution]

Only at weekends sneezy in the privacy of my own home!

[determinedmum]

I agree with the first part of sneezecakemum's post.
The law isnt easy to understand and there are presumably many different ways to approach cases so talking things over in an informal discussion is helpful.