Ethics Opinion Topic Index

Unauthorized Practice of Law

Administrative court procedures to prevent
Administrative hearing officer's duties regarding
Contempt remedies
Duty to supervise judicial staff
Judge's duties to prevent
Private cause of action
  •  72 MBJ 930 (Sep 1993),
Remedies
Verification of law licenses
Collections
  •  Bay County Bar Ass'N v. Finance System,
  •  Inc.,
  •  345 Mich 434 (1956),
Corporate counsel, licensed in another state but based in Michigan
  •  71 MBJ 555 (June 1992),
Duty to prevent
Duty to report
Employee supervision
Graduates not yet licensed
  •  71 MBJ 1061 (Oct 1992),
Inside counsel, licensed in another state but based in Michigan
  •  71 MBJ 555 (June 1992),
Lawyer listed on deed as preparer
Lawyer overseeing deed preparation
Lawyers from other states
  •  Mrpc 5.5,
Nonpayment of dues, ineffective assistance of counsel
  •  People v. Pubrat,
  •  451 Mich 589 (1996),
Out-of-state lawyers providing legal assistance concerning Michigan laws
  •  Mrpc 5.5,
Pro hac vice admission for a particular matter
  •  Mcr 8.126,
Supervision of employees
Title offices preparing deeds
Unlicensed law graduates
  •  71 MBJ 1061 (Oct 1992),
Verification of law licenses
Administrative agency practice
Agents of other persons
  •  Cobb v. Judge Superior Court of Grand Rapids,
  •  43 Mich 289 (1880),
  •  Marquette Prison Warden v. Meadows,
  •  114 Mich App 121 (1982),
  •  Bay County Bar Ass'N v. Finance System,
  •  Inc.,
  •  345 Mich 434 (1956),
Appearances in court by nonlawyer representatives
Bankruptcy
  •  Ginger v. Cohn,
  •  426 F2d 1385 (1970),
Collections
  •  Bay County Bar Ass'N v. Finance System,
  •  Inc.,
  •  345 Mich 434 (1956),
Communicating on behalf of party
Consequences of
  •  69 MBJ 821 (Aug 1990),
Contempt remedies
Corporate officers representing corporation
  •  69 MBJ 1007 (Oct 1990),
  •  Peters Prod.,
  •  Inc. v. Desnick Broad. Co.,
  •  171 Mich App 283 (1988),
Court appearances by nonlawyers
Court personnel assisting parties
  •  A/O 92,
Deposition participation
Determining when legal services are needed
Disciplined lawyers, scope of permitted activity
  •  68 MBJ 1108 (Nov 1989),
  •  71 MBJ 1188 (Nov 1992),
Divorce "kit" services
  •  68 MBJ 469 (June 1989),
  •  State Bar v. Cramer,
  •  399 Mich 116 (1976),
Document preparation
Fees for unlicensed work
  •  Birbrower,
  •  Montalbano,
  •  Condon & Frank v. Superior Court,
  •  12 Law Man 341 (1996),
Graduates not yet licensed
  •  71 MBJ 1061 (Oct 1992),
Intermediary for trust kit sales
Landlord & tenant cases
  •  78 MBJ 964 (Sep 1999),
Nonlawyers preparing legal documents
Nonlawyers appearing in court on behalf of others
  •  70 MBJ 442 (May 1991),
Outside presence of court
Patent agents, association with
Real estate transactions conducted by nonlawyers
  •  Ingham County Bar Ass'N v. Neller Co.,
  •  342 Mich 214 (1955),
  •  State Bar of Mi v. Kupris,
  •  366 Mich 688 (1962),
Self-help legal services
  •  70 MBJ 577 (June 1991),
Title insurance companies
  •  71 MBJ 428 (May 1992),
  •  70 MBJ 1198 (Nov 1991),
Trust kit salespeople
Trust services by nonlawyers
  •  RI-191,
  •  71 MBJ 212 (Feb 1992),
  •  Detroit Bar Ass'N v. Union Guardian TrUSt Co.,
  •  282 Mich 707 (1938),
  •  78 MBJ 844 (Aug 1999),
Will services by nonlawyer
  •  Grand Rapids Bar Ass'N v. Denkema,
  •  290 Mich 56 (1939),
  •  Detroit Bar Ass'N v. Union Guardian TrUSt Co.,
  •  282 Mich 707 (1938),
For-profit matching services
Out-of-state lawyer located in Michigan who has applied for a Michigan license and is practicing in jurisdiction where licensed
Temporary legal services