N.J.S.A. 2C:21-22 — Unauthorized practice of law, penalties.

2C:21-22 Unauthorized practice of law, penalties. 1. a. A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the person knowingly engages in the unauthorized practice of law. b. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if the person knowingly engages in the unauthorized practice of law and: (1) Creates or reinforces, by any means, a false impression that the person is licensed to engage in the practice of law. As used in this paragraph, "by any means" includes but is not limited to using or advertising the title of lawyer or attorney-at-law, or equivalent terms, in the English language or any other language, which mean or imply that the person is licensed as an attorney-at-law in the State of New Jersey or in any other jurisdiction of the United States; or (2) Derives a benefit; or (3) In fact causes injury to another. c. For the purposes of this section, the phrase "in fact" indicates strict liability. L.1994, c.47, s.1; amended 2011, c.209, s.1; 2014, c.48, s.1. 2C:21-22a Civil actions resulting from the unauthorized practice of law. 2. a. Any person who suffers any ascertainable loss of moneys or property, real or personal, as a result of any action or inaction by a person who knowingly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in violation of section 1 of P.L.1994, c.47 (C.2C:21-22) may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. b. In any civil action under this section the court shall, in addition to any other appropriate legal or equitable relief, award damages in an amount that constitutes the greater of: (1) $1,000, or (2) Three times the value of all costs incurred by the victim as a result of the defendant's criminal activity, including any fees paid to the defendant for services, costs incurred for attorneys' fees, court costs and any out-of-pocket losses. c. The standard of proof in civil actions brought under this section is a preponderance of the evidence, and the fact that a prosecution for a violation of section 1 of P.L.1994, c.47 (C.2C:21-22) is not instituted or, where instituted, terminates without a conviction shall not preclude a civil action pursuant to this section. A final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding shall estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any civil action brought pursuant to this section. d. A civil action under this section shall not preclude the application of any other civil, administrative, or criminal remedy under any other provision of law. L.2011, c.209, s.2.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-22, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.