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Is this acceptable? I have a professor whose area of expertise is relevant to a personal issue that I have. The professor in question is an adjunct professor for a clinic that I'm taking. It's a very dense area of law that I've tried to sort through myself, and it is really impossible unless you're a practicing attorney in that field. If I sat down with him for about 10 minutes, I'm sure he could give me a lot of really valuable information that would otherwise take me literally a month to figure out on my own. But it's only tangentially related to my legal career. Would it be OK to ask him for information/advice?

Do you have a decent relationship with him (her)? If so, I would say yes. You have access to some pretty awesome legal minds, might as well take advantage. Unless it's really personal, like too much information personal, then don't do it.

kalvano wrote:Do you have a decent relationship with him (her)? If so, I would say yes. You have access to some pretty awesome legal minds, might as well take advantage. Unless it's really personal, like too much information personal, then don't do it.

Thanks for the response. He supervises a case that I'm working on in the clinic, so he knows me/my work somewhat well. Info isn't too personal either. I guess it can't hurt to ask, the worst that will happen is that will just say that he can't help.

zomginternets wrote:

kalvano wrote:Do you have a decent relationship with him (her)? If so, I would say yes. You have access to some pretty awesome legal minds, might as well take advantage. Unless it's really personal, like too much information personal, then don't do it.

Thanks for the response. He supervises a case that I'm working on in the clinic, so he knows me/my work somewhat well. Info isn't too personal either. I guess it can't hurt to ask, the worst that will happen is that will just say that he can't help.

Yeah, in that case, fire away. Most professors like to show how smart they are, especially in obscure areas of law.

Yes, of course. Just email and make an appointment.

It's almost like 1Ls forget how the real world works when they get to law school. Just email him and set something up. Most professors love to help people out.

Note, definitely not ripping on you here, as I went through the same thing myself. Just saying it's remarkable how you doubt damn near everything (omg, is it okay for me to get a beer when I have x, y, z due in 3 weeks?).

a lot of professors really like being involved in the lives of students they like, at least that's the vibe I'm getting. i've found most professors would much rather answer a baseball rule question than an actual question related to the course.