from a friend or relative or anyone for that matter about the law and what police can do if that friend or relative has nothing to do with Law Enforcement or the Legal System?
It amazes me how may people get the Jail House Lawyer answers to legal questions and take that advise to heart. Would you ask your friend the best way to do laser eye surgery on a loved one and then go do it when the friend is not a doctor?
We are cosntantly seeing people who take the advise of others about questions like "Entrapment", "If I ask if your a cop you have to tell me", "You can't search without a warrant under any circumstances", "You did not read me my rights when I was arrested" etc.
Legal questions can have serious legal outcomes if the question was answered incorrectly, so why would you ask someone who is not in the legal field and take that advise to heart?
2007-03-14 07:39:56 · 9 answers · asked by thanson73 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I think TV plays very well into this. People watch a lot of TV drama shows about lawyers or police and takes the things portrayed to heart, not realizing that most of it is made up for dramatic effect by screenwriters who have little knowledge of the law. I wish i had a dollar for every "street-lawyer" that I've arrested who thinks he is going to beat the charge because I violated his rights in some way. It's funny (and a little painful) to see them on court day. They come in without a lawyer, because they know the law so well it would be a waste of money to hire one, and get "slam-dunked" by the judge. I actually tried to help a few of these people out early in my career by giving them legal advise or telling them they needed a lawyer, but soon realized that some people are so ignorant and hard-headed, no amount of advise was going to help them.
2007-03-14 10:08:05 · answer #1 · answered by LawDawg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to be in law enforcement to know the laws. All you have to do is buy a penal code book, learn your definitions, and take classes on the subject. You can pretty much tell if the person is bullsh!tting or knows their stuff. On the other hand, if someone is going to take advice without knowing it's credible, then they were doomed from the start.
2007-03-14 11:53:40 · answer #2 · answered by lovemytc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe George Washington said "seek the counsel of many." but he didn't say "seek the counsel of those who aren't professionals, who are or have been incarcerated due their imperfect understanding of the legal system."
Even as a retired cop, I may ask advice of my colleagues, but if it meant I was looking at doing some time.... I would hire the best criminal defense lawyer money could buy.
Hmm. never noticed how well "criminal" and "defense lawyer" blend together so well. ROFL.
2007-03-14 09:04:32 · answer #3 · answered by Lt. Dan reborn 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes they actually don't know what to do, and then sometimes I think they are hoping to hear a certain answer for reassurance that their original line of thought was correct.
It's definitely risky to act on others' opinions. I've seen some excellent answers on here and some that simply suck.
But it's a forum for opinions, and just like some other part of our lower anatomy, everyone has one.
2007-03-14 07:58:13 · answer #4 · answered by Hootiesplace 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people know things outside their area of expertise. I'm not a chef, but I can cook. I'm sure people are just "asking around" for the quick fix, but will hire a lawyer when the time comes.
2007-03-14 07:47:08 · answer #5 · answered by mikehunt29 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There may be issues with lawyers since they get paid and can make up any answer they want regardless of right or wrong. I got divorced and paid $26,000 to an idiot lawyer who couldn't even remember my kid's names on the stand. I wonder what the heck lawyers are good for at all.
2007-03-14 07:50:03 · answer #6 · answered by Your Uncle Dodge! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
taking advice is a sign of wisdom
but whose advice
some would leave all relatives and go to a teacher or some thing like that
the person who gives you the advice is not legally responsible for faults might happen
its your obligation to find the right person to ask
2007-03-14 07:45:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just advice it's not written in stone.
2007-03-14 07:48:00 · answer #8 · answered by shorty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cuz they're idiots
2007-03-14 07:52:31 · answer #9 · answered by yvvash 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋