Why is it against the law to practice law without a license?
<p>I have heard that it is against the law. A message reads as follows describing this: <em>Can we have an investigation of the attorney for practicing law without a license?</em></p>
<p>I asked my mother and she said that it is against the law to practice law in a professional way without being a certified lawyer. I checked the internet and it turned out to be true. Why?*</p>

<p><strong>Why is it against the law to practice law without a license?</strong></p>
<p>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. Any shortcomings can then be addressed either by law or the relevant regulating body.</p>

<p>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. I presume that few people facing serious charges that could result in a huge fine or imprisonment would want to be represented by someone who's legal knowledge consisted of having watched a few episodes of &quot;Perry Mason&quot;.</p>
<p>The more cynical explanation is that lawyers got together and had these rules passed to cut down on competition. If you have to jump through a bunch of hoops to be allowed to be a lawyer, then there will be fewer lawyers, and thus less competition, and thus lawyers can get away with charging higher fees. Suppose you owned a business. Wouldn't you like to have laws in place that prevented competing businesses from opening and taking away your customers?</p>
<p>Believe what you like. I'm sure the reality is a mixture of both reasons.</p>

unlicensed-practice