I know AINBU, having a moan

[Coffeetree]

Just got a text from a friend of mine, she sent some paperwork over WhatsApp and asked for some legal advice. No preamble, no "Hey are you free for a sec?"

It's for her husband's firm, it's not a personal favour.

I'm just going to ignore it. She adds at the end, "Hope you can help and hope you're well!"

Are solicitors allowed to share paperwork with their wives and have it sent over WhatsApp to their mates? I'm so confused by this!

That too! Ridiculous.

Just reply and say "you'd be better off sending this to Peter's work email, here's the address [email protected]. We're good, hope you are too"

I assume, on reading this, that YOU are the legal professional and your 'friend' is trying it on to get free work for her DH. I'd reply simply with your work number and your hourly rate. No need for niceties, as she as demonstrated...

It might a friend of hers, to be fair, but still. I've deleted the paperwork and told her sorry I'm busy today.

Nip this shit in the bud, immediately. If they want your professional expertise, they will pay for it.

Just having a hard day to begin with and socks to feel used.

Sorry maybe I misunderstood looking at the other comments, when I read her husband's firm I thought that meant a law firm so he was likely a solicitor, and I was confused why a solicitor would be seeking help from his wife's friends 😂

@GoogleWhacked

Just reply and say "you'd be better off sending this to Peter's work email, here's the address [email protected]. We're good, hope you are too"

Sorry reread your op. Same principal applies, feck off with your request for free legal advice. If you're a lawyer you've probably dealt with this before.

I've also told her I don't feel comfortable receiving people's documents like that over WhatsApp. Honestly the CFery

I have dealt with requests for free advice --all the time! But this is the first time from this person who I was considering a friend.

Good for you!

So refreshing to see some boundaries being set and reinforced

It looks like you’re doubting yourself.

Don’t. You’re absolutely in the right and being discreet and professional too.

I think it's a hazard of the job like doctors are always getting asked their opinions about medical stuff. Just tell her it's illegal to do free work and leave it at that. She probably just didn't think you would mind.

@Coffeetree

Just got a text from a friend of mine, she sent some paperwork over WhatsApp and asked for some legal advice. No preamble, no "Hey are you free for a sec?"

It's for her husband's firm, it's not a personal favour.

I'm just going to ignore it. She adds at the end, "Hope you can help and hope you're well!"

At least she got straight to the point I guess. I hate when someone needs a favour and engage in all this ' how are you ? ' ' what's new ? ' when they just want a favour.

Good for you, for not doing it.

I sometimes get people asking about their own legal issues, and I tell them if they're going to instruct me we need to do it properly. I can't sit there at a dinner table asking them detailed questions about their finances.

I have offered and done free legal work for friends but I wouldn't respond well to having a set of documents dumped on me one evening with a request for free advice. You can't even be sure you've got all the facts in that scenario.

I have a feeling he is pressuring her. It's something with a deadline. I haven't looked at the docs but it is something I could easily help with and it would take me 30 min max. I'm basically just not helping because I'm pissed off.

When I was in law, I eventually made myself reply that I wasn’t insured to give legal advice except formally through my firm.
Because as we all know, the fact the advice was free and you weren’t in possession of all the facts , won’t stop them from trying to blame it on you and sue if it all goes tits up!
You absolutely did the right thing.

Maybe the most you should do is direct them to the type of lawyer they need e.g. "this looks like a consultation with a probate lawyer is needed."

I would have thought that you can't provide free legal advice and have to have an agreement in place to act on someone's behalf.

If you don't surely you are not covered by professional indemnity insurance, liable to be sued personally and by your firm if acting outside your contract.

You will know better than I do but I've always genuinely understood this to be correct.

Agree that you give her your work email, and your fees.

Just got a frosty response. I think her husband's firm is either hoping to get a freebie from me, or they don't trust their own lawyer's advice.

I probably would have helped if it had been phrased in any decent way.

Just a crap thing to happen on a crap day (family illness etc.)

Well done, OP. I'm an accountant, but not small business. Doesn't stop people asking if I can 'just' do a simple tax return.

I don't, after explaining insurance etc,

Doesn't stop them being a bit huffy!