(Edited response)
Jennifer Ellis, I'm a lawyer in PA, USA. Nothing I write is legal advice.
Answered Jun 8, 2016 · Upvoted by Adam Nyhan, Attorney at Opticliff Law
Generally, in the United States, it is illegal for a non-lawyer to give legal advice with or without a disclaimer. I would say it is illegal in every state, but I have not checked the law in every state.
Anyone can offer an opinion, understand. But actually providing legal advice is generally within the domain of a licensed lawyer. And even in the case of licensed attorneys, if you give legal advice in a state where you are not licensed, and you do not fall within an appropriate exception, you too are practicing law without a license.
Therefore, I can offer broad, educational information to someone in New York, just like any other non-lawyer, but I cannot provide legal advice. On the other hand, I can provide legal advice in Pennsylvania, which is where I am licensed.
A reminder that a contributor to this conversation is not a doctor, attorney or US citizen.