About Brian Greenberg Expertise I can answer questions about preparing for law school (including appropriate undergraduate coursework), what to expect in law school, doing well in law school, employment during and after law school, etc.
Experience I attended the George Washington Universtity Law School and graduated in the top half of my class in 1998. I now practice entertainment law in New York City.
Organizations State Bar of New York
State Bar of California
Education/Credentials George Washington University Law School; Juris Doctor - 1998
George Washington University; Bachelor of Arts - 1994
Awards and Honors George Washington University Honors Program;
George Washington University Presidential (half tuition) scholarship
I am a 3L law school student. My question is: I understand that I must not represent myself as an attorney before I'm admitted to the bar, and this means I cannot give legal advice. However, I'm uncertain as to where one crosses the line. If someone misunderstands an legal concept, am I permitted to correct him? For example, if someone misstates adverse possession law in America, can I tell him the correct law as I know it? Is there a problem if I also misstate the law?
Thanks,
Mike
Answer Hi Mike. My advice is to steer away from these types of conversations entirely. Even if you state at the outset that you're not an attorney, that you're only making a general statement about the law as you understand it, that your statement does not constitute and should not be construed as legal advice and that the person with whom you are speaking should consult a licensed and competent attorney about their particular issue, that person may, nevertheless, rely on your statement as legal advice. And if they do so to their detriment, there's no telling what they might do. But the last thing you need is for the State Bar where you're interested in practicing to get wind of a complaint that you doled out legal advice (or what was perceived as legal advice) without a license. Such a thing can ultimately jeopardize your application for admission to the Bar, even assuming you pass the Bar exam.
So the bottom line is, you'll be better off if you keep mum about your legal opinions until after you're licensed. And even then, you'll want to be careful to limit your advice to those areas in which you've become competent (ideally through practicing in that area under the supervision of one or more experienced attorneys). As I'm sure you already know, the law, as governed and shaped by statue and case law from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, can, and often does, differ significantly from the general legal concepts taught in law school.
I hope this is helpful, and I wish you luck in all of your endeavors.
