A clerk may give legal advice to defendants who represent themselves.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Only with judge's approval

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that clerks handle administrative tasks and procedural guidance, not legal advice. A court clerk can help you with forms, explain filing deadlines, and show you where to file documents. But giving legal advice—telling you how the law applies to your specific situation or what you should do in court—counts as practicing law, which only a licensed attorney may do. Because of that boundary, a clerk may not provide legal advice to defendants who represent themselves. If you need guidance on the law itself, seek an attorney or legal aid; the clerk can help with paperwork and general procedural questions, but not with interpreting the law or strategy.