The employer is screening for your understanding of unauthorized practice of law and whether you can hold the line while still being helpful.
Acknowledge the client's need, state your boundary clearly without over-apologizing, then offer an administrative alternative such as summarizing or scheduling a consultation. Escalate the substantive question to the supervising attorney.
Start by acknowledging the client's request warmly, then draw the line clearly and without apology. Say something like, "I am happy to summarize the termination clause and walk you through what it says, but I cannot give you my opinion on whether it is fair, because that is legal advice and only our attorney can provide that." Explain that this is not a limitation you are choosing, but a professional and legal boundary that protects both the client and the firm. Then immediately pivot to action: offer to prepare a plain-language summary of the clause, highlight any unusual provisions, list the notice periods and conditions, and flag anything that might warrant a closer look. Make clear you can also schedule a consultation with the supervising attorney, and that you will route the fairness question to them with the client's specific concerns attached. In the Philippine context, you can add that this approach aligns with how local law firms and BPO legal support teams handle client queries, keeping administrative tasks with you while reserving legal judgment for the licensed professional. Keep your tone helpful and steady, not defensive, so the client feels supported rather than redirected.
A common mistake is to say 'Sa tingin ko po, fair naman po yan kasi 30 days naman' (I think it is fair because it is 30 days). This crosses into legal advice. Instead say: 'I can summarize the clause for you, but our attorney will need to advise on whether it is fair or acceptable.'
Situation
I previously worked as a virtual assistant for a real estate attorney. A client emailed a lease agreement and asked if the termination clause was fair to them.
Task
I needed to respond helpfully without analyzing the clause's fairness, because that would be legal advice.
Action
I acknowledged the request, explained that I cannot assess fairness but can compare the clause to the standard template the attorney uses for termination notice periods. I summarized the clause's administrative details in a table and flagged it for attorney review.
Result
The attorney reviewed and sent the client a one-line explanation within the hour. The client thanked me for the quick turnaround and did not ask me for a legal opinion again.
Always redirect evaluative questions to the supervising lawyer while offering concrete administrative help.
Write your own answer, then get instant AI feedback graded against:
Get AI feedback on your answer — free.
3 free AI-graded answers + 1 free mock interview, no card needed.
Sign Up FreeAlready have an account? Log in
Sign in to join the conversation.
No answers shared yet — be the first to show how you'd approach this.