If it's of any importance, a lawyer should be more than willing to provide their client with their advice in writing.
This isn't much different from how one shouldn't perform high-stakes transactions without the certainty of a written contract.
But just saying it's off the record and billing out as legal research instead of practicing law doesn't protect you.
If it's of any importance, a lawyer should be more than willing to provide their client with their advice in writing.
This isn't much different from how one shouldn't perform high-stakes transactions without the certainty of a written contract.