484.020. Who shall engage in the practice of law or do law business--penalty. - Missouri Statutes

Who shall engage in the practice of law or do law business--penalty.

484.020. 1. No person shall engage in the practice of law or do lawbusiness, as defined in section 484.010, or both, unless he shall have beenduly licensed therefor and while his license therefor is in full force andeffect, nor shall any association, partnership, limited liability companyor corporation, except a professional corporation organized pursuant to theprovisions of chapter 356, RSMo, a limited liability company organized andregistered pursuant to the provisions of chapter 347, RSMo, or* a limitedliability partnership organized or registered pursuant to the provisions ofchapter 358, RSMo, engage in the practice of the law or do law business asdefined in section 484.010, or both.

2. Any person, association, partnership, limited liability company orcorporation who shall violate the foregoing prohibition of this sectionshall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction therefor shall bepunished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars and costs ofprosecution and shall be subject to be sued for treble the amount whichshall have been paid him or it for any service rendered in violation hereofby the person, firm, association, partnership, limited liability company orcorporation paying the same within two years from the date the same shallhave been paid and if within said time such person, firm, association,partnership, limited liability company or corporation shall neglect andfail to sue for or recover such treble amount, then the state of Missourishall have the right to and shall sue for such treble amount and recoverthe same and upon the recovery thereof such treble amount shall be paidinto the treasury of the state of Missouri.

3. It is hereby made the duty of the attorney general of the state ofMissouri or the prosecuting attorney of any county or city in which serviceof process may be had upon the person, firm, association, partnership,limited liability company or corporation liable hereunder, to institute allsuits necessary for the recovery by the state of Missouri of such amountsin the name and on behalf of the state.

(RSMo 1939 § 13314, A.L. 1982 S.B. 680 Revision, A.L. 1997 H.B. 655 merged with S.B. 170)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 11693; 1919 § 667

Effective 6-24-97 (H.B. 655) 5-20-97 (S.B. 170)

*Word "on" appears in original rolls.

(1987) This section does not prevent a foreign insurance corporation from sending in-house counsel to defend its insureds, where such counsel is admitted to the Missouri Bar. In re. Allstate Ins. Co., 722 S.W.2d 947 (Mo.banc).

(2008) Provision awarding treble damages for unauthorized practice of law or law business does not violate due process. Carpenter v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 250 S.W.3d 697 (Mo.banc).