North Carolina § 84-4 - Persons other than members of State Bar prohibited from practicing law.

§ 84-4. Persons other than members of State Bar prohibited from practicing law.

Except as otherwise permitted by law, it shall be unlawful for any person or association of persons, except active members of the Bar of the State of North Carolina admitted and licensed to practice as attorneys-at-law, to appear as attorney or counselor at law in any action or proceeding before any judicial body, including the North Carolina Industrial Commission, or the Utilities Commission; to maintain, conduct, or defend the same, except in his own behalf as a party thereto; or, by word, sign, letter, or advertisement, to hold out himself, or themselves, as competent or qualified to give legal advice or counsel, or to prepare legal documents, or as being engaged in advising or counseling in law or acting as attorney or counselor-at-law, or in furnishing the services of a lawyer or lawyers; and it shall be unlawful for any person or association of persons except active members of the Bar, for or without a fee or consideration, to give legal advice or counsel, perform for or furnish to another legal services, or to prepare directly or through another for another person, firm or corporation, any will or testamentary disposition, or instrument of trust, or to organize corporations or prepare for another person, firm or corporation, any other legal document. Provided, that nothing herein shall prohibit any person from drawing a will for another in an emergency wherein the imminence of death leaves insufficient time to have the same drawn and its execution supervised by a licensed attorney-at-law. The provisions of this section shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other provisions of this Chapter. Provided, however, this section shall not apply to corporations authorized to practice law under the provisions of Chapter 55B of the General Statutes of North Carolina. History (1931, c. 157, s. 1; 1937, c. 155, s. 1; 1955, c. 526, s. 1; 1969, c. 718, s. 19; 1981, c. 762, s. 3; 1995, c. 431, s. 4.) Cross References. - As to officers disqualified to practice law, see G.S. 84-2. Legal Periodicals. - For note on unauthorized practice of law by corporations, see 41 N.C.L. Rev. 225 (1963). For case law survey on unauthorized practice of law, see 41 N.C.L. Rev. 447 (1963). For note on the unauthorized practice of law by corporations, see 65 N.C.L. Rev. 1422 (1987). For a comment on ethical and legislative considerations of multidisciplinary practices, see 36 Wake Forest L. Rev. 193 (2001). For comment, "Sharing Their Piece of the Real Estate Pie: An Analysis of the Necessity of Lawyers at Residential Real Estate Closings in the Context of the Adoption of Recent Opinions of the North Carolina State Bar," see 26 Campbell L. Rev. 59 (2004). For comment, "Dropping Dropbox in your Law Practice to Maintain your Duty of Confidentiality," see 36 Campbell L. Rev. 175 (2013).