If a client needs an attorney to mediate a dispute or to represent her in arbitration, she may seek an attorney who is an adept negotiator. A client simply may need basic information about a particular law or an area of law. Basic legal information may be found in pamphlets and booklets distributed by state bar associations. Law schools occasionally offer legal services, and law libraries typically have ample legal information for the public. A layperson may be able to find answers to simple questions in a law library, but researching a complex issue, or the law on an entire case, is best left to the expertise of a professional.
Small claims are a special matter.
Most small-claims courts do not allow attorney representation, and therefore parties must present their own cases. Some lawyers may give small amounts of information without charge. Information is different from advice. Advice is legal information given to a person along with a recommended course of action. When an attorney gives legal advice, the attorney may be liable for malpractice if the advice is erroneous.