Legal Advice Guidelines

Court staff can:

  • Provide legal and procedural definitions
  • Cite statutes, court rules and ordinances
  • Provide public case information
  • Provide general information on court operations
  • Provide procedural options
  • Make general referrals
  • Provide forms and instructions

Court staff cannot:

  • Give legal interpretations or procedural advice
  • Conduct legal research
  • Disclose confidential case information
  • Disclose confidential, ex parte or restricted information on court operations
  • Give personal opinions
  • Make subjective or biased referrals
  • Complete forms for parties
If you are in need of legal advice, you may contact the New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 800-342-3661