Jailhouse lawyer

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A jailhouse lawyer is a colloquial term in North American English to refer to an inmate in a jail or other prison who, though usually never having practised law nor having any formal legal training, informally assists other inmates in legal matters relating to their sentence (e.g. appeal of their sentence, pardons, stays of execution, etc.). Sometimes, he or she also assists other inmates in civil matters of a legal nature.

The term can also refer to a prison inmate who is representing themselves in legal matters relating to their sentence.

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