No Violation

The Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board has dismissed misconduct charges against an attorney who has practiced law for over 50 years without prior discipline. The attorney hired a law graduate who had passed the bar but was not yet admitted. He was accused of aiding unauthorized practice and improper fee sharing with a non-lawyer. The board majority found that the law grad had functioned as a paralegal and that the payment arrangement was that of an independant contractor rather than a fee sharing arrangement. A dissent would find the violations and impose a period of suspension. (Mike Frisch)