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What is a Legal Advisor?

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

A legal advisor is typically a lawyer or other type of law professional who specializes in offering legal assistance on a variety of matters. While they may sometimes pursue lawsuits and litigation for their clients, their general job is to ensure that a client's actions in a particular matter are legal. The advisor may work on a freelance basis, or may have a permanent job as a counselor to a company, government office or politician, or individual client.

Many legal advisors specialize in a particular area of law. Family law advisors may provide legal services that concern divorce, custody, and inheritance issues. An employment law professional may be concerned with worker's compensation issues, workplace harassment or wrongful dismissal suits. Commercial lawyers often serve as advisors to businesses and corporations. Legal advisors that work for a governmental department will typically specialize in issues such as constitutional law, international law, or public policy.

A legal advisor may do research, provide relevant materials, and cite specific laws to help craft a plan for a client.
A legal advisor may do research, provide relevant materials, and cite specific laws to help craft a plan for a client.

A legal advisor may serve as a resource for an informed opinion on a legal question. He or she may do research, provide relevant materials, and cite specific laws to help explain a law or craft a plan for a client. In some cases, an advisor may assist in preparing paperwork or examining contracts and other documents to help ensure that an action is being done legally. In some cases, an advisor may also serve as a client's attorney, representing him or her in court.

A legal advisor is typically a lawyer who specializes in providing legal assistance.
A legal advisor is typically a lawyer who specializes in providing legal assistance.

Government officials and departments frequently employ advisors to help draft legislation and proposals that meets existing legal standards. Each department of a government may have a separate head legal advisor specific to their jurisdiction, but the office of a government legal advisor may employee dozens of additional lawyers to serve as associate counselors and assistants. Politicians, particularly those planning to campaign for election, typically employ a legal advisory team to ensure that their actions are in accordance with laws.

Some organizations offer free legal advice via telephone.
Some organizations offer free legal advice via telephone.

Most larger businesses and organizations employ a legal advisor to manage contracts and advise on policy. Police and fire departments, non-profit groups, hospitals, and school districts often require legal advice to navigate the complicated policy laws that dictate their actions. Regional governments, such as city or county boards, may also use advisors to assist in creating local policies and laws.

A legal advisor might help a worker injured on the job explore their options for compensation.
A legal advisor might help a worker injured on the job explore their options for compensation.

For individual citizens, it may be possible to get legal advice from a legal aid group, law school clinic, or a law firm. This can be a good first step to determining whether a person needs to hire a lawyer to pursue or defend against a claim. Law clinics and legal aids often provide free advice and some assistants, while law firms may charge a consulting fee simply to give an initial opinion of a case.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a MyLawQuestions writer.

Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a MyLawQuestions writer.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

familyfirst

I believe I have been hacked in an online game, and I believe it's a person who plays the game and knows someone on the inside in the intern area or department.

I don't know if this is a case of anything really, but my information was given to this person. Now I have been tempted to reach their headquarters and demand an explanation, but I am not sure if that is wise.

This is a child's online game and I am a mother who played online to keep an eye on her children. I truly feel that I have been violated and I truly need legal advice on this matter and about what I should do, if anything and/or if it's anything.

Glasis

While a paralegal may be able to give unofficial legal advice or information, so to speak, he or she is not a lawyer.

In a majority of cases, formal legal advisors hired by corporations and governmental agencies are lawyers.

However, many law schools do get their students experience through legal aid or legal advice clinics. The extent of this advice varies based on the needs of the prospective clients, but would not include actual in-court representation.

Certlerant

Do you have to have or be a lawyer or in law school to work as a legal advisor? Can a paralegal get legal advisor jobs?

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    • A legal advisor may do research, provide relevant materials, and cite specific laws to help craft a plan for a client.
      By: George Wada
      A legal advisor may do research, provide relevant materials, and cite specific laws to help craft a plan for a client.
    • A legal advisor is typically a lawyer who specializes in providing legal assistance.
      By: Gina Sanders
      A legal advisor is typically a lawyer who specializes in providing legal assistance.
    • Some organizations offer free legal advice via telephone.
      By: Aleksndr Login
      Some organizations offer free legal advice via telephone.
    • A legal advisor might help a worker injured on the job explore their options for compensation.
      By: Photographee.eu
      A legal advisor might help a worker injured on the job explore their options for compensation.
    • A legal advisor can help people decide the best framework for setting up an inheritance plan.
      By: Digital_Zombie
      A legal advisor can help people decide the best framework for setting up an inheritance plan.
    • Employment law professionals may concern themselves with workplace harassment suits.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Employment law professionals may concern themselves with workplace harassment suits.