GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 353

Short Title:        Unauthorized Practice of Law Changes.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senator Hartsell (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:	Rules and Operations of the Senate.

March 23, 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 must clearly and conspicuously communicate 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."

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, may 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 is 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 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.

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(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.

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SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.