LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been sentenced to at least 18 months in prison for accepting money in exchange for legal advice he wasn’t certified to give.

A Lancaster County district judge on Tuesday sentenced 49-year-old Clinton Brooks Jr. to 18 months to 38 months in prison, plus $1,500 restitution. He was convicted in October of theft by deception and unauthorized practice of law.

Brooks’ attorney said his client grew up poor and wanted to help people navigate the court system. He said when 49-year-old Brooks started giving legal advice, he didn’t know what he was doing was illegal.

Prosecutors say Brooks accepted $1,500 for telling a mother and her son how and when to file legal documents.