New Board Idea!

rizla01

Wouldn't it be a good idea to have a board entitled 'Legal Eagles'?

I see a lot of questions from people asking all types of 'legal' questions and they have appeared on various different boards and cover a multitude of enquiries.

They are usually answered very articulately, by members with an obvious legal background so I feel that all enquiries of this nature would be well served by their own board.

The type of questions answered would be Consumer Law, Property Law, Debt Advice, Small Claims Advice, Motoring. The list is endless. And not everyone can afford a solicitor. (Legal aid can cost a lot of money).

I realise that there would have to be a HUGE disclaimer in place at the beginning of the board, otherwise there could be a few difficult implications, but the massive benefit to a lvery arge number of people would make that worthwhile, I would have thought.

And since there doesn't appear to be anywhere that I can find on the WWW where this service is available, it should get MSE's name spread about as bit more.

Does anyone else agree?

Riz.

Rikki

I agree this would be a good idea. :j

rizla01

Thanks Ricki

Riz

Rex_Mundi

I've used the Motley Fool before for legal advice. They have a legal issues section in their forums. They are free to join, and there is also a wealth of information on their site to save money.

I was informed by one of their members in a post that Martin is also a member there and posts occasionally.

rizla01

Thanks for that Rex.

I still think that it'd be a benefit to MSE if we had our own board though.

bylromarha

In principle I agree with you. A great idea.

But unfortunately, if you look at the legal debates people have had on their different threads, they decend into who knows what about the subject and they decend into a backbiting thread with one person knowing one angle, someone else knowing something else and the OPs problem gets lost in the debate.

So it would have to be very carefully monitored, and I'm not sure anyone would have the time or energy to do that much board guiding!

rizla01

bylromarha wrote:

In principle I agree with you. A great idea.

But unfortunately, if you look at the legal debates people have had on their different threads, they decend into who knows what about the subject and they decend into a backbiting thread with one person knowing one angle, someone else knowing something else and the OPs problem gets lost in the debate.

So it would have to be very carefully monitored, and I'm not sure anyone would have the time or energy to do that much board guiding!

I see backbiting, rudeness and downright insults on MANY threads.

what's different?

Riz

bylromarha

rizla01 wrote:

I see backbiting, rudeness and downright insults on MANY threads.

what's different?

Riz

true...it's a shame, isn't it? I thought we were all grown adults.

On normal threads is more "you're wrong" blatent insulting.

When the debate turns legal it becomes very snipy and accusations of ignorance fly about. And so many people think they "know" the law, but are then rebutted by someone else who also "knows" the law and the advice contradicts each ither and I just think the question the OP poses would get lost or forgotten as the debate turned into a "I know more than you do thickie" match

zzzLazyDaisy

I am an employment lawyer with some general litigation experience. I no longer work, due to ill-health, but I do a bit of 'pro-bono' (free) work. I have helped people to make and defend claims in the small claims court, and in employment tribunals.

I'd be happy to contribute to a 'legal eagles' board - with the proviso that anything I said would be for information only, and not to be relied on as legal advice (this has to be the case, as we can never be sure that we have all the facts on a forum, and the seemingly inconsequential fact to the OP can sometimes make a huge difference to the outcome of a complaint/query).

I would hope that, a legal eagle board would attract other MSE lawyers (I have seen them around on the other forums) and I doubt that there would be any back-biting between the lawyers - what would be the point?

Daisy

Bendybops19

I think that is a brilliant idea!! I'm currently asking for advice on another thread about employment law, and the advice i am getting is fab - i wouldnt have known any of it if it wasnt for this forum.

trace-j

I think it's an excellent idea. Only problem the thread could end up a dumping ground for all legal problems. When they could be marriage, health, consumer law, personal injury etc legal problems and there are already threads for these topics.

My suggestion would be perhaps have a Q&A/legal eagle thread in existing threads to make things easier to find, make sense?

Re the back biting, it is an open forum and anyone can post. As anyone with a legal background will know the law is open to interpretation and only a court of law can make a definative design for or against someone. Perhaps this could also be made clear in the disclaimer. i.e. "Only a Court of Law can interpret statutory legislation information posted is not opinion of MSE."

There are a few people I've seen posting who will persistantly disagree with you and are only happy until someone shares their opinion. Sad really, but thats the way things go!!!!