Court Opinion

ID: 9618601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:14:07.203566+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:30.693595
License: Public Domain

CAMERON, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent from that portion of the opinion and decision which would admit non-lawyers to the limited practice of the law before the Maricopa County Employees Merit System Commission.
It is, of course, tempting to rule that when the amount in controversy is not sufficient to make retention of an attorney financially feasible, then anybody may represent a person no matter how unqualified the “volunteer attorney” may be, as long as no fee is involved. I am concerned that persons not admitted to the bar nor bound by the same code of conduct as members of the bar and not subject to the discipline of this court are now, by this decision, permitted to practice law even on a limited basis. Hackin v. State, 102 Ariz. 218, 427 P.2d 910, appeal dismissed 389 U.S. 143, 88 S.Ct. 325, 19 L.Ed.2d 347 (1967), reh. den. 389 U.S. 1060, 88 S.Ct. 766, 19 L.Ed.2d 866 (1968).
I do not imply that Mr. Tom Donnelly, the union representative in this case, is in any way ethically or morally deficient. It is noted, however, that Mr. Donnelly, the person petitioner wished to represent her, is a representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union. If this union wishes to assist its members in these matters before the Commission, and it is commendable that they wish to do so, it seems to me they could, without too much additional expense, employ an attorney for that purpose. The result of the decision of this court is not so much to provide individuals with the assistance of a non-lawyer to represent them before the Commission, but to allow their union to dispense with employing an attorney for its members and instead provide a non-attorney for legal representation. The opportunity for mischief in such a scheme far outweighs any benefits that may result.