Section 484.020

Title XXXII COURTS

Chapter 484

Effective - 24 Jun 1997, see footnote   

  484.020.  Who shall engage in the practice of law or do law business — penalty. — 1.  No person shall engage in the practice of law or do law business, as defined in section 484.010, or both, unless he shall have been duly licensed therefor and while his license therefor is in full force and effect, nor shall any association, partnership, limited liability company or corporation, except a professional corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of chapter 356, a limited liability company organized and registered pursuant to the provisions of chapter 347, or^* a limited liability partnership organized or registered pursuant to the provisions of chapter 358, engage in the practice of the law or do law business as defined in section 484.010, or both.

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

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

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(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).