Bill Text: NC H436 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Unauthorized Practice of Law Changes
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-06-30 - Ch. SL 2016-60 [H436 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2015-H436-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2015
H 2
HOUSE BILL 436
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/15/15
Short Title: Unauthorized Practice of Law Changes. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
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Referred to: |
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April 1, 2015
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to further define the term "practice law" for the purpose of protecting members of the public from serious harm resulting from the Unauthorized practice of law by a person who is not a trained and licensed attorney and to establish a process of review by the attorney general prior to any action by the state bar to enjoin the unauthorized practice of law.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 84‑2.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 84‑2.1. "Practice law" defined.
(a) The phrase "practice law" as used in this Chapter is defined to be performing any legal service for any other person, firm or corporation, with or without compensation, specifically including the preparation or aiding in the preparation of deeds, mortgages, wills, trust instruments, inventories, accounts or reports of guardians, trustees, administrators or executors, or preparing or aiding in the preparation of any petitions or orders in any probate or court proceeding; abstracting or passing upon titles, the preparation and filing of petitions for use in any court, including administrative tribunals and other judicial or quasi‑judicial bodies, or assisting by advice, counsel, or otherwise in any legal work; and to advise or give opinion upon the legal rights of any person, firm or corporation: Provided, that the above reference to particular acts which are specifically included within the definition of the phrase "practice law" shall not be construed to limit the foregoing general definition of the term, but shall be construed to include the foregoing particular acts, as well as all other acts within the general definition.
(b) The phrase "practice law" does not encompass any of the following:
(1) the The drafting or writing of
memoranda of understanding or other mediation summaries by mediators at
community mediation centers authorized by G.S. 7A‑38.5 or by
mediators of employment‑related matters for The University of North
Carolina or a constituent institution, or for an agency, commission, or board
of the State of North Carolina.
(2) The production, distribution, or sale of materials, provided that all of the following are satisfied:
a. The production of the materials must have occurred entirely before any contact between the provider and the consumer.
b. During and after initial contact between the provider and the consumer, the provider's participation in creating or completing any materials must be limited to typing, writing, or reproducing exactly the information provided by the consumer as dictated by the consumer or deleting content that is visible to the consumer at the instruction of the consumer.
c. The provider does not select or assist in the selection of the product for the consumer; provided, however, (i) operating a Web site that requires the consumer to select the product to be purchased; (ii) publishing descriptions of the products offered, when not done to address the consumer's particular legal situation and when the products offered and the descriptions published to every consumer are identical; and (iii) publishing general information about the law, when not done to address the consumer's particular legal situation and when the general information published to every consumer is identical, does not constitute assistance in selection of the product.
d. The provider does not provide any individualized legal advice to or exercise any legal judgment for the consumer; provided, however, that publishing general information about the law and describing the products offered, when not done to address the consumer's particular legal situation and when the general information published to every consumer is identical and does not constitute legal advice or the exercise of legal judgment.
e. During and after initial contact between the provider and the consumer, the provider may not participate in any way in selecting the content of the finished materials.
f. In the case of the sale of materials including information supplied by the consumer through an Internet Web site or otherwise, the consumer is provided a means to see the blank template or the final, completed product before finalizing a purchase of that product.
g. The provider does not review the consumer's final product for errors other than notifying the consumer (i) of spelling errors, (ii) that a required field has not been completed, and (iii) that information entered into a form or template by the consumer is factually inconsistent with other information entered into the form or template by the consumer.
h. The provider clearly and conspicuously communicates to the consumer that the materials are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.
i. The provider discloses its legal name and physical location and address to the consumer.
j. The provider does not disclaim any warranties or liability and does not limit the recovery of damages or other remedies by the consumer.
k. The provider does not require the consumer to agree to jurisdiction or venue in any state other than North Carolina for the resolution of disputes between the provider and the consumer.
For the purposes of this subsection, "production" shall mean design, creation, publication, or display, including by means of an Internet Web site; "materials" shall mean legal written materials, books, documents, templates, forms, or computer software; and "provider" shall mean designer, creator, publisher, distributor, displayer, or seller.
(c) The completion of a preprinted offer, option contract, sales contract, or lease from by a real estate broker licensed under Chapter 93A of the General Statutes, in accordance with rules adopted by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission."
SECTION 2. G.S. 84‑37 reads as rewritten:
"§ 84‑37. State Bar may investigate and enjoin unauthorized activities.
(a) The Council or any committee appointed by it for
that purpose may inquire into and investigate any charges or complaints of (i) unauthorized
unauthorized, unlicensed, or unlawful practice of law or (ii) the
use of the designations, "North Carolina Certified Paralegal," "North
Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal," or "Paralegal Certified by
the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification," by
individuals who have not been certified in accordance with the rules adopted by
the North Carolina State Bar. Bar, or (iii) noncompliance with G.S. 84‑2.1(b)(2)
by any provider of materials, as those terms are defined in G.S. 84‑2.1(b)(2).
The Council may issue a letter of warning or, after complying with the
provisions of subsection (a1) of this section, may issue a demand to cease and desist
or bring or cause to be brought and maintained in the name of the North
Carolina State Bar an action or actions, upon information or upon the
complaint of any person or entity actions against any person or
entity that engages in rendering any legal service, service in
violation of any provision of this Chapter, holds himself or herself out as
a North Carolina certified paralegal by use of the designations set forth in
this subsection, or makes it a practice or business to render legal services
that are unauthorized or prohibited by law. No bond for cost shall be required
in the proceeding.
(a1) Prior to issuing a demand to cease and desist or bringing an action or actions as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the Council, or any committee appointed by it for that purpose, shall submit the proposed demand to cease and desist or action and an explanation of why regulatory action by the Council is needed for review by the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall review the proposed demand to cease and desist or action and any material submitted in support thereof to ensure that the Council or any committee appointed by it is acting to protect the public interest and consistent with State policy and with the Council's authority as set forth in this Chapter. The purpose of the review by the Attorney General is to ensure that the proposed demand to cease and desist or action is State action that is consistent with the authority of the Council and that would be entitled to State action immunity under the federal antitrust laws. The Attorney General shall review the substance and procedure of any decision by the Council or any committee appointed to send a demand to cease and desist or to file an action to ensure that the proposed action is consistent with State policy. The Attorney General shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the proposed sending of a demand to cease and desist or the filing of an action or to modify any demand to cease and desist or action to ensure that it accords with State policy. The Council or any committee appointed by it for that purpose may forgo review by the Attorney General when seeking injunctive relief is necessary to prevent ongoing fraud or imminent harm to consumers or when the Council or any committee appointed by it for that purpose has made a specific determination in writing that the relief sought is not likely to have a material adverse effect on competition. The Attorney General may appoint a designee to perform any duties required or authority provided under this subsection.
(b) In an action brought under this section, the final
judgment if in favor of the plaintiff North Carolina State Bar shall
perpetually restrain the defendant or defendants from the commission or
continuance of the unauthorized unauthorized, unlicensed, or
unlawful act or acts. A temporary injunction to restrain the commission or
continuance of the act or acts may be granted upon proof or by affidavit, that
the defendant or defendants have violated any of the laws applicable to unauthorized
unauthorized, unlicensed, or unlawful practice of law or the unauthorized
unauthorized, unlicensed, or unlawful use of the designations set
forth in subsection (a) of this section or any other designation implying
certification by the State Bar. The provisions of law relating generally to
injunctions as provisional remedies in actions shall apply to a temporary
injunction and the proceedings for temporary injunctions.
(c) The venue for actions brought under this section shall be the superior court of any county in which the relevant acts are alleged to have been committed or in which there appear reasonable grounds that they will be committed in the county where the defendants in the action reside, or in Wake County.
(d) The plaintiff in the action North
Carolina State Bar shall be entitled to obtain documents and examine
the adverse party and witnesses before filing complaint and before trial in the
same manner as provided by law for examining parties.
(e) This section shall not repeal or limit any remedy
now provided in cases of unauthorized unauthorized, unlicensed, or
unlawful practice of law. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed
as disabling or abridging the inherent powers of the court in these matters.
(f) The Council or its duly appointed committee may
issue advisory opinions in response to inquiries from members or the public
regarding whether contemplated conduct would constitute the unauthorized unauthorized,
unlicensed, or unlawful practice of law."
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.