Opinion ID: 1101393
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: unlicensed practice of law

Text: Chapter 10 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, which governs the investigation and prosecution of the unlicensed practice of law, specifically provides that [f]or purposes of this chapter, a nonlawyer or nonattorney is an individual who is not a member of The Florida Bar. This includes, but is not limited to ... disbarred lawyers, and suspended lawyers during the period of suspension. [3] R. Regulating Fla. Bar 10-2.1(b) (emphasis added). Although not explicitly named, this definition of nonlawyer or nonattorney implicitly includes attorneys who have resigned in the face of disciplinary charges. Such resigned attorneys also are not members of The Florida Bar. Accordingly, suspended attorneys, disbarred attorneys, and attorneys who have resigned in the face of disciplinary charges are not members of The Florida Bar under chapter 10, but are instead nonlawyers or nonattorneys subject to the jurisdiction of this Court if they engage in the unlicensed practice of law. [4] While not necessarily referring specifically to chapter 10, this Court has consistently imposed additional discipline upon already-disciplined attorneys for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law during their existing discipline. See, e.g., Florida Bar v. Neckman, 616 So.2d 31, 32 (Fla.1993) (publicly reprimanding attorney who had resigned in the face of disciplinary charges, holding that the unauthorized practice of law by one who has resigned the license to practice rather than face disciplinary proceedings is the equivalent of violating a prior disciplinary order of this Court, and that it is proper for discipline to be imposed upon an attorney who has temporarily resigned the license to practice law.); Florida Bar v. Golden, 563 So.2d 81, 81-82 (Fla.1990) (imposing additional suspension upon attorney who violated the terms of his existing suspension, holding that counselling and attempting to assist his client in requesting two continuances [during the subject attorney's period of suspension] constituted the unauthorized practice of law); Florida Bar v. Riccardi, 304 So.2d 444, 445 (Fla. 1974) (finding in contempt and issuing permanent injunction against disbarred attorney due to his unauthorized practice of law after disbarment). See also Florida Bar v. Greene, 589 So.2d 281, 282-83 (Fla.1991) (disbarring attorney for continuing to practice law while suspended, holding that [w]e have found disbarment appropriate in other cases in which attorneys have engaged in the practice of law while suspended).