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The internet: legal agony aunt extraordinaire

Increasingly, people are turning to the internet for answers to some of their thorniest legal issues. From poison pen letters to online porn, asking the legal hive mind has democratised access to lawyers – and drawn in a vast spectrum of non-legal eagles who also like to share their often colourful opinions.

By Editorial Team. Published 13 May 2016. Last updated 11 January 2023.

The explosive growth of online forums begs a question: should these forums be providing legal advice? After all, the digital interface is a world away from sitting face-to-face with one’s lawyer – with all the checks and balances that brings.

Here’s just a taster of what’s being discussed out there, right now. What ‘advice’ would you give

I have a service dog, someone I don't know was taking pictures of me and my dog. There's been cases of dog napping near me. What should I do?

- Reddit Legal Advice UK

[Can I know more about] Same sex adultery as grounds for divorce…

- UK Divorce Forum

Overpayment of inheritance being reclaimed [advice please]

- Law Store Social

If a person attempts to buy counterfeit money but is then scammed, can he or she go to the police?

- Reddit Legal Advice UK

Can and how do I drop charges against someone?

- The Law Forum

Verbal death threats from neighbour [please advise]

- Law Store Social

Regarding swordsticks ownership through inheritance [are they legal?]

- Reddit Legal Advice UK

Why will no one take my case?

- The Law Forum

Does merely viewing "Extreme pornography" in a web browser constitute illegal possession, under the ban of extreme pornography?

- Reddit Legal Advice UK

Poison pen letter [what do I do?]

- Law Store Social

Image Copyright. Can I legally photoshop a Google image of an individual and post it on a blog?

- Reddit Legal Advice UK