Wild Blue

The Tennessee Board on Professional Responsibility has censured an attorney

Mr. Phelps is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, and he serves in the United States Air Force in Great Falls, Montana. Mr. Phelps intended to file a motion to place his license on military exempt status with the Board of Professional Responsibility in March 2020, but he did not do so. Mr. Phelps did not pay his annual registration fee for 2021. He received three notices of the fee and his failure to pay it. Mr. Phelps incorrectly believed the notices were in error because he was “military exempt.” On March 15, 2021, Mr. Phelps’ law license was suspended for his failure to pay his annual fee, but he did not stop practicing law. On March 7, 2022, he stopped practicing law. Mr. Phelps received discipline from the United States Air Force for this conduct.

By these acts, Mr. Phelps has violated Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5 (unauthorized practice of law) and is hereby Publicly Censured for this violation.

(Mike Frisch)