To really hate it when friends and family ask me for legal advice?

[FixxerUpper]

I’m a solicitor. This is something that has always bugged me but it seems to be happening a lot right now.

I feel like every time I speak to friends and family someone asks me for legal advice. Usually on the area of law in which I practice, but not always (I know as much about family law as the next person...).

I hate it. I mean I have nothing against helping people out if I can but I find it stressful and to be honest cheeky as fuck.

What if my advice is incorrect? I rarely know the full background to the issue at hand. I haven’t read the documents you’re referring to. I had a rare day off the other day and my mum phoned me to ask for advice ffs. It sounds stupid but it’s really getting to me!

I have a doctor friend who unsurprisingly has the same issue.

Please. Stop doing it.

My Sol friend recently did our Wills and we paid her the standard firm fee. It's her living, how she puts bread on the table. I cringe when I hear friends and acquaintances try to get free advice informal advice from her. She usually replies they should book an initial free consult. My sister is a Doctor and she struggles with this too, she can't treat people who aren't her patient.

I get it OP. I'm a Psychologist so people either avoid me, want to tell me their whole life story or ask me to analyse the behaviour (I.e. agree with their arm chair diagnosis) of a friend or family member. I've got pretty good now at saying things like:
That's not my area of expertise
I don't work for free
I'd rather not think about work on my day off
It's not ethical for me to give advice (to family/without meeting the individual etc)

It's irritating but I know I have also been guilty of it with my computer engineer relative so I do try to be patient with people.

Just tell them you can't and don't. Your professional code of ethics is stringent, and 'free' legal advice puts you in a risky position. I say this with my LEXCEL compliance manager hat on. Be kind but be firm.

I'm a structural engineer and always get asked about builders/renovations/house buying. I'm sure some people are being cheeky but most just don't know where to start. I usually start with saying I can't give specific advice without insurance. But if I'm feeling helpful, I can talk them through a process or some questions to ask, point them to a helpful website or refer to someone who can help. Most people are happy with that.

I'm a lawyer and get this a lot. It's always something terribly important (or so they say) I usually tell them to instruct a solicitor who practices that area or even go to Citizen's Advice. Suddenly it's all "Oh I don't want to do that."

Ok then.

I agree with the OP, it's a pain.

I work in healthcare and am often asked for free advice.

If it's my area of expertise I give them a business card and ask them to call me during office hours.

If it isn't then I point them in the direction of someone who can help them.

After spending years studying and living on a reduced income to do so, I don't give 'freebies' or 'mates rates'