A new push by the State Bar to make the unauthorized practice of law a felony, rather than a misdemeanor, is trumpeted as helping protect the public by increasing the risk of dispensing unlicensed advice.
The rationale behind the bill is that attorneys are scrutinized more closely and subject to disciplinary penalties, have had their character vetted, and are required to take continuing legal education courses; thus, they are less likely (in theory) to misleadingly give advice or unscrupulously take advantage of a client.
