Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2021): Carr Maloney Partner and Virginia State Bar Ethics Committee Chair Dennis Quinn was recently quoted in an article published in a Virginia Lawyers Weekly article titled, “VSB opinion: Non-lawyer can’t go into court on POA.”
A proposed Unauthorized Practice of Law opinion concluding that a non-lawyer cannot file pleadings and appear in court pursuant to a power of attorney without running afoul of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act was unanimously approved at the Virginia State Bar Annual Meeting on June 18.
The opinion states that an argument has been made that “assert and maintain” and “bring to action” in the UPOAA translates into a nonlawyer being able to appear before a court on behalf of the principal without lawyer representation.
To read the full article and see what Dennis Quinn and the rest of the VSB Ethics Committee had to say, please click here.