Going to court and talking to a clerk

A friend just told me that she went to court and got legal advice. I asked who she talked to at the courthouse.  She said a clerk at the window.

Please be advised that the clerk at the window might only have a high school decree.  These people are usually not attorneys.  And, they are not supposed to give legal advise.

In my friend's case, since she did not consult with a real attorney it's going to cost her family a lot of money to fix her problem.