Question on Online "Obscentity laws" as well as Who is entitled to give legal advice

[Matt H.]

Hello! I have a question about people giving legal advice. Is it legal for say someone who isn't state certified, BAR certified or what have you to give legal advice (ie some joe schmo)? Recently an individual posted a reply on a messege board with the term "God damned" in it, and one of the other board posters is ranting at him about the Federal laws involving obscenities over the various communications lines, and that he had committed a felony. The words were not spoken in a derogatory way (ie to demean the church or what have you...ie it wasnt a religoue/hate crime related blurb)...he was upset and, well, out it came. The individual who is claiming that he can legally give legal advice is supposedly a history major/law minor currently in college (I have no idea where I didn't ask). Is he right in that this person committed a felony (Federally)? Is it even a prosecutable crime outside of a personal case? Is it a crime for this indivudual to claim to be able to give legal advice tho he is not in any way apparently certified/educated to do so? Thanks for any help you might be able to give! Please email me if possible at [email protected] , but I will try and get back to the board soon if possible! Thanks!

Matt

Matt

 

[poeticheart]

I am a paralegal in Texas. I do not work for a criminal attorney... instead my background is medical malpractice. I do; however, feel confident when I say that no person has the right to give legal advice other than an attorney.

I do not believe there are any exceptions to this rule.