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Do Not Pay even creates a script for the plaintiff to read out loud in court. Why does this feel like it gets DANGEROUSLY close to UPL?

by dvtrn 8y ago

koolba 8y ago
For anyone else that also had no clue what UPL referred to, it's "Unauthorized Practice of Law": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practice_of_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practice_of_law I don't see how providing a script with the usual disclaimers is any different than receiving the same advice, with the same disclaimers, from an individual. The biggest difference seems to be scale as before a non-lawyer could give advice "in the small" (i.e. people they can actually talk to in person) but with technology you can reach thousands.
- dvtrn 8y ago
  I don't see how providing a script with the usual disclaimers is any different than receiving the same advice, with the same disclaimers, from an individual. When you say 'individual', are you implying individual attorney? Granted, I'm asking because I'd genuinely like someone who has credentials from their state bar (i.e. a licensed attorney) to answer this: their TOS says they are not a law firm, and that they are not providing legal counsel. If your friend says "yeah man that sucks, you should sue those bastards for what they did to your car", no reasonable person would argue this rises to the definition of 'legal advice'. But if your friend prescribes what exactly you need to say to a court in the context of legal procedure, when summoned to appear, this doesn't qualify as 'legal counsel'? That I'm curious about.
  - koolba 8y ago
    The first thing that came to mind for me was services like LegalZoom and they've had some experience dealing with UPL: http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/latest_legal_victory_has_legalzoom_poised_for_growth http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/latest_legal_vict... https://www.legalzoom.com/press/press-mentions/unauthorized-practice-of-law-claims-threaten-access-to-justice https://www.legalzoom.com/press/press-mentions/unauthorized-...
    - dvtrn 8y ago
      LegalZoom came to mind immediately, as well actually. Having not read your links (they're loading in separate tabs as I speak (edit: er...type)), was I mistaken thinking that at least LegalZoom has licensed attorneys at least on staff and several others in their 'network'?

Do Not Pay even creates a script for the plaintiff to read out loud in court. Why does this feel like it gets DANGEROUSLY close to UPL?

by dvtrn 8y ago

Do Not Pay even creates a script for the plaintiff to read out loud in court. Why does this feel like it gets DANGEROUSLY close to UPL?

koolba 8y ago

For anyone else that also had no clue what UPL referred to, it's "Unauthorized Practice of Law": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practice_of_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practice_of_law I don't see how providing a script with the usual disclaimers is any different than receiving the same advice, with the same disclaimers, from an individual. The biggest difference seems to be scale as before a non-lawyer could give advice "in the small" (i.e. people they can actually talk to in person) but with technology you can reach thousands.

dvtrn 8y ago
I don't see how providing a script with the usual disclaimers is any different than receiving the same advice, with the same disclaimers, from an individual. When you say 'individual', are you implying individual attorney? Granted, I'm asking because I'd genuinely like someone who has credentials from their state bar (i.e. a licensed attorney) to answer this: their TOS says they are not a law firm, and that they are not providing legal counsel. If your friend says "yeah man that sucks, you should sue those bastards for what they did to your car", no reasonable person would argue this rises to the definition of 'legal advice'. But if your friend prescribes what exactly you need to say to a court in the context of legal procedure, when summoned to appear, this doesn't qualify as 'legal counsel'? That I'm curious about.
- koolba 8y ago
  The first thing that came to mind for me was services like LegalZoom and they've had some experience dealing with UPL: http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/latest_legal_victory_has_legalzoom_poised_for_growth http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/latest_legal_vict... https://www.legalzoom.com/press/press-mentions/unauthorized-practice-of-law-claims-threaten-access-to-justice https://www.legalzoom.com/press/press-mentions/unauthorized-...
  - dvtrn 8y ago
    LegalZoom came to mind immediately, as well actually. Having not read your links (they're loading in separate tabs as I speak (edit: er...type)), was I mistaken thinking that at least LegalZoom has licensed attorneys at least on staff and several others in their 'network'?