The State Bar offers unauthorized practice of law complaint forms in multiple languages. For questions, call the State Bar's multilingual complaint hotline at 800-843-9053. The State Bar works with other law enforcement agencies to investigate when someone violates the law.
Most, if not all, jurisdictions have decided to implement a law that requires such a licence (or similar) to ensure that practitioners are properly authorised, regulated and competent in the best interests of the administration of justice and to maintain a high standard of professionalism.
In California, only attorneys can practice law. When someone who is not licensed to practice law provides services that can only be performed by attorneys, that is called the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). UPL is a crime.
lawyer who presents him/herself as an attorney, or practices law, faces California misdemeanor penalties. These may include a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), up to one (1) year in county jail, or both.
Practicing lawyers in California must be licensed by the State Bar. The State Bar's admission requirements are set by the California Business and Professions Code.
In California, only attorneys can practice law. When someone who is not licensed to practice law provides services that can only be performed by attorneys, that is called the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). UPL is a crime.
The justification is that the purpose of such laws is to protect people who need legal help from being victimized by con men, or by people who may be well-meaning but who do not know anything about the law and thus are not competent to help.
Upon admission to the bar an attorney normally must take an oath declaring their obligations to the court, state, and country as an officer of the court; register with the court; and receive a license to practice.
The licensing process for attorneys assures the public of some basic level of competence in every attorney who obtains a license.