When a client asks for specific legal advice, what should a legal assistant do?

• A. Provide a complete legal opinion.
• B. Offer general information but not specific advice.
• C. Direct the client to the appropriate court forms.
• D. Politely inform the client that, as a legal assistant, you are prohibited by law from offering advice and that their specific questions need to be directed to the lawyer.

Answer: (D)

When a client asks for specific legal guidance, a legal assistant should defer to the licensed attorney. The important idea is that non-lawyers aren’t permitted to offer tailored legal opinions, so providing a direct answer to a specific legal question could cross into the unauthorized practice of law and expose the firm to risk. The best approach is to politely explain that you can’t provide legal advice and that their questions need to be addressed by the lawyer who can review the facts and give tailored guidance. You can still be helpful by offering general information about the topic, outlining what information the lawyer will need, and assisting with non-legal tasks like gathering documents or guiding them to applicable forms. But the specific advice should come from the attorney.