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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think people shouldn't give out legal advice on here when they don't know what they're talking about

169 replies

BooBearBoo · 22/05/2011 16:24

I have read SO MANY threads on here with posted giving out advice as if it is gospel and it is totally wrong.

I've had to clear up nonsense on two threads in as many days.

Why do people think this is ok to do????!!!!!! It's dangerous!

OP posts:
wtfpurple · 22/05/2011 17:23

Internet advice = Buyer beware.

Goes for kids. Can't see why adults should consider themselves exempt.

lesley33 · 22/05/2011 17:30

I agree with you. I think its fine for people to say this was my situation and this what my lawyers advised - although it may be different for you. But people shouldn't give legal advice unless they know what they are talking about.

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 22/05/2011 17:32

I am a barrister e.g. I am right

Given that the merits of civil and criminal cases are open to argument, I don't see how you can make that statement with any degree of confidence BooBearBoo, unless you cherry pick your briefs to ensure that you have a 100% chance of success.

Nor do I see how you can dispense anything other than the most general legal advice without asking pertinent questions of the client and, where necessary, other parties and/or without being in possession of all of the facts of the matter.

As for I've had to clear up nonsense on two threads in as many days, no,you haven't. You've chosen to spend your time responding on this site which is an entirely different matter.

Anyone posting on a site such as this is free to act on or ignore any suggestions that may come their way, just as they are free to act on or disregard any advice given by their real life friends/family, or by their paid or unpaid legitimate legal advisers.

Equally, anyone posting on this or any similar internet site can claim to be an 'expert', but that doesn't make their assertion true or ensure that their advice can be relied on.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 22/05/2011 17:33

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood you georgi. All I meant was, no, we can't know how good any advice on the net really is. One thing that can be helpful is links to sources. On the thread this thread is referring back to, given there was disagreement about the law, there wasn't any way to know who was right, except by either citing a source we could all see was official, or consulting a real, live authority, which I'm guessing the OP is going to do.

I didn't mean we should all go around citing sources when we say anything, because usually people don't take opinions given on MN too seriously from what I've seen.

motherinferior · 22/05/2011 17:35

Ahem.

There was a time a few years ago when MNers found that someone who was posting about every damn legal case was a rather elaborate troll. (It was utterly fascinating and The Truth Has Not Yet Been Publicly Revealed.)

Original poster
BooBearBoo · 22/05/2011 17:35

I make that statement with total confidence actually. As my statement related to the law NOT to the merits of the case.

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityhat · 22/05/2011 17:35

God, if people don't understand that they should take all advice as just advice on Mumsnet, then they have got big problems. Isn't there some sort of disclaimer about all this on the talk boards anyway? And how do we know BooBearBoo isn't the school cleaner Hmm?

BBB please provide a link to advice offered on Mumsnet "as if its gospel" - I'd be very interested to see it.

motherinferior · 22/05/2011 17:36

(I do actually like people to cite sources, certainly when they start going down the Many Studies Have Shown route, and you ask them for three well-referenced examples and they haven't got any...)

mayorquimby · 22/05/2011 17:36

Well in fairness why are people asking on AIBU. I agree with your sentiment because even as someone with legal training I am at pains to point out the theoretical nature of any advice I may proffer and the need to seek actual legal advice if it is a serious situation. And it is frustrating to see someone come out with "x,y and z is illegal they should be fined etc." when it clearly is not.

motherinferior · 22/05/2011 17:37

In fact the reason, IIRC, that there is that disclaimer at all is that this particular faux lawyer was being appealed to about all sorts of things and his/her advice was being taken as absolute gospel.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 22/05/2011 17:41

Btw, in case I come across as harsh, I should say I do understand why it's annoying. At results time last year some idiot was posting repeatedly that you needed all A* grades for Oxbridge and, yes, I felt annoyed that she was acting as an authority when I and others knew perfectly well she was wrong. Luckily it's not hard to link to the Oxford/Cambridge websites that explain the situation properly. But I do know as a result of that thread that it is pointless to be upset that people don't immediately perceive the superiority of correct advice from a professional, to incorrect assurances from someone else. It's the price we pay for anonymity.

KittySpencer · 22/05/2011 17:41

This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations.

I hate reading threads where people who either have no legal training (or if they do must be shit lawyers) give out advice which is wrong. Often I will direct the OP to where they can obtain proper legal advice via a qualified lawyer ie not over the net. The alternative is for me to say 'you're wrong, I'm a lawyer and the correct situation is XYZ' However each and every time I've gone for the latter approach I've been told I a) am not a lawyer or b) don't know what I'm talking about or c) a combination of a and b.

ScousyFogarty · 22/05/2011 17:46

you get some bad advice from experts I suppose crape does make the world go round. I had A good clearance yesterday. May have blocked the drains.,

Cocoflower · 22/05/2011 17:47

However recently we had a legal matter to address and all our advice was conflicting.

We wanted to legally change our surname.

I phoned the CAB who said deed poll route.
I spoke to x2 solicitors who insisted I had to use (and pay a lot more) money to them and deed poll doesn't count
I spoke to passport agency who said deed poll was fine
I found another website saying just writing a letter was fine and no need for deed poll or solicitors work.

All very conflicting from every source who should I believe?

PorkChopSter · 22/05/2011 17:48

I am reminded of this cartoon Wink

LRDTheFeministDragon · 22/05/2011 17:52

... I've only just noticed now someone has bolded the comment, but what on earth does 'I am a barrister e.g. I am right' even mean?

Sorry, call my a cynic, but I find it hard to believe that the person who wrote that is a barrister, really.

motherinferior · 22/05/2011 17:55

I think it means 'ie I am right'. However, both that declaration and its mistaken phraseology do make me question it too.

Original poster
BooBearBoo · 22/05/2011 17:55

Pah. Taken so out of context Sad

OP posts:
KittySpencer · 22/05/2011 17:56

The thing is that often in law it's possible to have a range of opinions, answers are not always black and white. To be fair if everything was black and white we wouldn't have quite so much litigation!

Cocoflower, I know next to nothing about the legal rules for changing your name, and therefore cannot comment on which is the correct route. It is however possible that there are various ways of legally changing your name, but any solicitor/legal adviser should be able to explain to you the reasons why their recommendation is correct, and the difference between this and any alternatives you may have been thinking of.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 22/05/2011 17:57

mother - I guess so, but 'ie' doesn't make any sense their either. I know people occasionally use it, but isn't it usually people who don't know what 'ie' means?

Side issue, I suppose, but revealing in that we really don't know who's who on the net and it is not very wise to trust advice on that basis.

Original poster
BooBearBoo · 22/05/2011 17:58

Look I'm not going to start posting saying I am I am please believe me, so whatever.

The thread had a simple premise and most seem to agree with me; posters need to have a little bit more inward reflection before they write legal stuff when the clearly and quite obviously have no idea what they are talking about. Sheesh.

OP posts:
motherinferior · 22/05/2011 17:58

Ho yes, LRD, totally agree.

Cocoflower · 22/05/2011 18:01

Thank you Kitty, its all done and dusted but I suppose I was trying to just show how when RL advice may be very conflicting I can see why people might want to know others antedotal experiences for some more simple issues.

worraliberty · 22/05/2011 18:09

I don't believe anyone who says they're a Barrister, Doctor, Teacher, Police Officer, Butcher, Baker or Candlestick Maker.....

Why one earth would I? This is the internet...people can be who/what they want to be. Therefore, if I need the advice of a proffesional I won't be seeking it from a chat forum.

More fool anyone who does Confused

AlpinePony · 22/05/2011 18:10

What on earth is wrong with "id est , I am right" ? Confused