Limited Scope, Legal Information, Legal Advice and More

Legal advice helplines, help desks, clinics, and chat bots are tried-and-true methods of providing vital information to the public and serving as entry points to the legal system. However, this type of limited-scope service can raise complicated ethics questions in various scenarios. A sound understanding of New York State rules surrounding limited scope representation and the difference between legal information and advice can help programs implement these services in the safest way possible for practitioners and clients alike. Using our experience building and maintaining the Senior Legal Advice Helpline, the Surrogates Court Help Center, and the Annual Wills Clinics at the Center for Elder Law and Justice, we will educate participants about the ethics of limited scope representation. This includes a robust discussion of the ethical requirements on limited scope programs; determining whether and when an attorney needs to staff a program; addressing the limitations of limited scope models in providing certain services; and deciding whether a program should offer legal advice vs. when legal information alone is sufficient.