Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Michigan

Can law students advertise services that do not require an attorney per se?

In areas of law, such as setting up

LLCS or S Corps and even

representing students in honor code

hearings and investigations an

attorney is not mandated by law to

be apart of. So can a law student

advertise for these things if they

have experience? Honor code

proceedings to do require an attorney

just a representative of the student's

choice so why couldn't a student with

knowledge charge a much lesser

amount to other student's who get

raked through the coals on trumped

up charges by high priced attorneys,

when a student could do just as good

if not better giving advice and helping

out through the process, but

charging a lesser fee?


Asked on 8/10/08, 6:18 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Audra Arndt Audra A. Arndt & Associates, PLLC

Re: Can law students advertise services that do not require an attorney per se?

Law students are not allowed to give legal advice. They can only participate in certain court proceedings with the authority of a judge, and when supervised by a licensed lawyer (or through a legal aid clinic). While paralegals and others with legal knowledge can assist with drafting certain documents, there is a fine line between "assistance" and giving "advice," along with a fine line regarding advertising for these services without misleading the public.

Trust me, law students don't know as much as you might think. While a lot of them are brilliant and have experience even before they are actually licensed (and some are more qualified than a lot of licensed lawyers out there), you are better off with a knowledgable and experienced, licensed lawyer.

Read more
Answered on 8/16/08, 11:41 pm


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