NRS § 7.285 is the Nevada law that prohibits people from practicing law in Nevada if they are not legally authorized to do so.

Penalties for the unauthorized practice of law (“UPL”) rarely involve incarceration for a first-time offense, but UPL prosecutions are usually accompanied by related:

• criminal charges,
• civil lawsuits and
• disciplinary actions.

The statute reads as follows:

NRS 7.285. A person shall not practice law in this state if the person:

(a) Is not an active member of the State Bar of Nevada or otherwise authorized to practice law in this state pursuant to the rules of the Supreme Court; or

(b) Is suspended or has been disbarred from membership in the State Bar of Nevada pursuant to the rules of the Supreme Court.

On this page, our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys explain the unauthorized practice of law under NRS 7.285. We will discuss examples involving loan modification schemes as well as “notorio fraud.”

• 1. What is Nevada’s definition of unlawful practice of law under NRS 7.285?
• 2. What are defenses to UPL charges in Nevada?
• 3. What are Nevada’s penalties for unauthorized practice of law?

1. What is Nevada’s definition of unlawful practice of law under NRS 7.285?

In order to become a lawyer in Nevada, you need to apply to the Nevada State Bar and pass the Bar Exam. Then in order to remain a lawyer in the state, you must abide by various professional rules such as:

• Paying annual Bar dues, and
• Submitting annual reports to the Bar, and
• Completing annual quotas for Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) in Nevada, and
• Following the Nevada Supreme Court’s Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. In other words, you are obligated to act ethically.¹

If you do not meet these requirements to become or remain a lawyer in Nevada, you may not provide legal services. Consequently, the legal definition of the Nevada crime of the “unauthorized practice of law” is when you practice law under either of the following conditions:²

• You are disbarred as an attorney by the Nevada State Bar. (This also includes situations where you received a “disciplinary resignation” from the Nevada State Bar.)
• Your law license is currently suspended by the Nevada State Bar.
• You are currently an inactive member of the Nevada State Bar, which means that you have voluntarily waived your authority to practice law in the state. This often happens if you retire or move to another state.
• You have never been a member of the Nevada State Bar.

Aiding UPL in Nevada

Note that as a licensed, active attorney, you violate NRS 7.285 by helping non-attorneys engage in the unauthorized practice of law. Criminal defense attorney Michael Becker gives a common example involving loan modification scams:

Example: Attorney John agrees to allow his non-lawyer friend Max to open a loan modification office in John’s name and to share the legal fees this office brings in. However, John lets Max do all of the legal services without John’s supervision.

Meanwhile, the clients are misled into thinking John is in charge of their loan modifications. If caught, both John and Max could be arrested for the unauthorized practice of law (as well as for fraud charges relating to the loan modification).

In the above example, both Max and John are equally liable:

• Max for the unauthorized practice of law, and
• John for letting Max do all the legal work and defrauding clients into believing John was helming their cases.

Notorio Fraud

Another common UPL case in Nevada involves immigration consulting fraud, also known as “notorio fraud.” “Notorios” are people who hold themselves out as immigration consultants to non-citizens seeking lawful residency or citizenship in the U.S.

Example: In an effort to make money, Sid sets up an immigration consulting firm in Las Vegas that targets non-citizens looking to get Visas, green cards or citizenship in the U.S. A non-lawyer, Sid falsely holds himself out as a lawyer in good standing and performs legal profession services for clients who believe his false advertising.

If caught, Sid could be booked at the Clark County Detention Center for UPL as well as fraud.

Most notorio cases in the news involve unscrupulous scammers who charge hefty fees for services they never provide. Often their fraud causes permanent damage to their victim’s cases, such as:

• denial of lawful status and
• deportation.

Though even “competent” immigration consultants may face UPL charges if they perform legal services without being licensed attorneys.

Out-of-State Attorneys

Note that the Nevada Bar does not have “reciprocity” with other states. This means that out-of-state attorneys may not automatically become Nevada lawyers. Instead, they’re required to:

• apply to the Bar,
• pass the bar exam, and
• follow the rules of professional conduct like every other Nevada attorney.

However, note that there are rare circumstances where an attorney licensed in another state may temporarily engage in limited law practice in Nevada.

These attorneys often need to seek permission from the Nevada State Bar first. Then they have to follow Nevada’s ethics rules regarding out-of-state attorneys.

Example: Jack is sued for medical malpractice in Nevada. He wants to hire Howard, a renowned California attorney, who specializes in medical malpractice cases.

Howard contacts the Nevada State Bar and applies for “Pro Hac Vice,” asking permission to associate with a Nevada lawyer in order to represent Jack on the medical malpractice case in Nevada. If the application is granted, then Howard may practice law as Jack’s attorney in his Nevada medical malpractice case without fear of breaking the law.

In the above example, Nevada Pro Hac Vice laws authorize Howard to practice law only as Jack’s defense attorney for the pendency of the medical malpractice case. If he is caught practicing law for anyone else or in any other case, then he could face prosecution for unlawful practice of law in Nevada.

Other circumstances where out-of-state lawyers may legally practice law in Nevada are the following:³

1. The lawyer participates in a Nevada investigation and discovery incident to litigation that is pending in another jurisdiction where the lawyer is admitted to practice.
   • Example: A California case involving Nevada corporations. A California attorney working on the case may be able to make evidence requests from Nevada.
2. The lawyer is an employee of a client and is acting on behalf of the client in matters related to the client’s business, provided that the lawyer is acting in Nevada on an occasional basis and not as a regular or repetitive course of business in this jurisdiction.
   • Example: A non-Nevada attorney who is “in-house counsel” for a company doing business in Nevada.
3. The lawyer is acting with respect to a matter that is incident to work being performed in a jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted, provided that the lawyer is acting in Nevada on an occasional basis and not as a regular or repetitive course of business in this jurisdiction.
   • Example: A California attorney who won a California construction defect case against a Nevada company. If the Nevada company refuses to pay damages, the California attorney may then try to enforce a judgment against the Nevada company in Nevada.
4. The lawyer is engaged in the occasional representation of a client in association with a lawyer who is admitted in Nevada and who has actual responsibility for the representation and actively participates in the representation, provided that the out-of-state lawyer’s representation of the client is not part of a regular or repetitive course of practice in Nevada.
   • Example: A California attorney who collaborates or “associates” with a Nevada attorney on a Nevada case as long as the California attorney remains behind the scenes, doesn’t have final say, and doesn’t sign off on legal documents.
5. The lawyer is representing a client, on an occasional basis and not as part of a regular or repetitive course of practice in Nevada, in areas governed primarily by federal law, international law, or the law of a foreign nation.
   • Example: A non-Nevada lawyer representing a party to a federal class-action lawsuit in Nevada Federal Court.
6. The lawyer is acting as an arbitrator, mediator, or impartial third party in an alternative dispute resolution proceeding.
   • Example: A non-Nevada attorney mediating a dispute between a landlord and a tenant trying to resolve their legal issues out of court.

Note that out-of-state lawyers and ex-Nevada lawyers aren’t the only people susceptible to violating NRS 7.285. Anybody who provides legal services without authorization may be prosecuted, whether or not they have previous attorney experience.

2. What are defenses to UPL charges in Nevada?

The most effective defenses to fight charges of the unlawful practice of law depend on the specifics of the case. Potential defenses include the following:

Attorney supervision

Non-attorneys employed in law firms (such as law student associates and administrative assistants) may be able to perform limited law-related services as long as an attorney directs all the non-lawyers’ writing, actions, and client communication.

So if the defense attorney in a UPL case can show that no non-lawyer performed legal services without an attorney’s regular oversight, supervision and approval, the charges may be dropped.

No legal advice

People do not need an attorney’s license to communicate legal information to others. In fact, many law professors are not licensed to be attorneys in the states where they teach.

However, only attorneys may convey legal advice to clients or potential clients seeking legal counsel. If the prosecution in a UPL case cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you conveyed any legal advice, the case should be dismissed.

Attorneys unnecessary

Some law-related activities do not require a licensed attorney to do them. For instance, it is not an NRS 7.285 violation for a paralegal or investigator to take a sworn factual statement from a witness (as long as it did not involve the exercise of professional legal judgment).⁴

If a court determines that you did not perform any service that could only be carried out by licensed attorneys, you should not be held liable for UPL.

Note that it is not the unauthorized practice of law for a non-lawyer to represent themself in court. However, Nevada state law makes it illegal for a non-lawyer to represent someone else in court.

3. What are Nevada’s penalties for unauthorized practice of law?

The punishment for committing unlawful practice of law in Nevada depends on whether you have previous UPL convictions:⁵

Your UPL Offense	Class of Crime	Criminal Sentence
1st offense within the last 7 years	misdemeanor	up to $1,000 in fines, and/or up to 6 months in jail
2nd offense within the last 7 years	gross misdemeanor	up to $2,000 in fines, and/or up to 364 days in jail
3rd or subsequent offense within last 7 years	category E felony	Probation and a suspended sentence. Though if you have two or more prior felony convictions, the court may impose one to four years in Nevada State Prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

Depending on the circumstances, you may also face other criminal charges related to the case such as:

• obtaining money by false pretenses or
• federal bank fraud.

These penalties can involve several years in Nevada State Prison.

Disciplinary penalties

Nevada attorneys alleged to have committed the unauthorized practice of law also face disciplinary penalties from the Nevada State Bar. There are four different forms of possible punishments:⁶

1. a reprimand letter kept on permanent file with the Nevada State Bar and a possible fine or restitution payment of up to $1,000, or
2. a public reprimand published in local newspapers and official Nevada State Bar publications such as the Nevada Lawyer, or
3. bar license suspension, or
4. permanent disbarment

Predictably, the more serious the ethics violation, the more serious the sanction.

Note that attorney disciplinary procedures are entirely separate from criminal cases. A hearing is conducted in front of the Nevada State Bar Disciplinary Board, which decides whether you committed misconduct.

However, the Nevada Supreme Court has jurisdiction to review cases where your license is suspended or revoked.

Civil penalties

Victims in alleged cases of unauthorized practice of law may try to collect monetary damages by bringing a civil lawsuit. Possible civil causes of action include:

• breach of contract,
• fraud
• unjust enrichment, and
• legal malpractice

Note that only attorneys may be sued for legal malpractice.

Helpful Resources:

• Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct
• Supreme Court of Nevada
• Nevada Supreme Court Rules
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• Model Rules of Professional Conduct

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