How do I ask a general law question?

Question

"Please don't ask questions seeking legal advice on a specific matter. These are off-topic for Law Stack Exchange."

What does this rule imply about how to phrase my question about the law in a learning forum such as this one?

Dale M · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-29 04:00:48Z

7

Make the question about the law rather than about individuals

For example:

I shot a guy, am I guilty of murder?

is clearly seeking legal advice. However:

What is the definition of murder in [some jurisdiction]?

is a question about the law which may answer the first question but it is not legal advice.

answered Aug 29, 2019 at 4:00

Dale MMod

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Alexanne Senger · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-09 03:51:37Z

Make it hypothetical.

To ask a hypothetical question, use these helpful tips:

State it. "This is a hypothetical." "Hypothetical example." "Hypothetical facts." Or just simply: "Hypothetical:"
Replace first person pronoun references like "I" and "we" with either
- Third person pronouns like "he", "she", "it" and "they" ...or (even better)
- Metasyntactic variables like "A", "B", "C", etc.
Delete any references to any specific case or case number, etc.