Memo 46 – If you don’t have a professional license, or are not an expert: don’t comment.

Also: Should you charge for your opinion?

Someone asks you for a professional opinion on an area that is not your area.

1. Should you give an opinion?
2. Should you give your opinion for free?
3. Should you give an opinion and charge for it?

Rule 1: If it is not your area of expertise: don’t give your opinion

• Do not give an opinion on something that is not your area, or not your responsibility: if you give the correct advice, then you will not gain, but if you give the wrong advice, they will use this as an opportunity to charge you (or back charge you).
• In this country, you need a license in order to give engineering advice. If you give engineering advice without a license:
  • (i) there are potential criminal issues
  • (ii) there are potential liability issues (huge costs and penalties for the firm).

Rule 2: If it is your expertise: make sure you charge for it

• We charge for our expertise.
• And we don’t charge by the hour.
• I have made available a “design review” fee. Put in your number and that’s what the client will get.

Case Study:

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