Opinion of the Justices to the Senate

289 Mass. 607 | Mass. | 1934

The order was transmitted to the Justices on July 5, 1934, and on January 30, 1935, they returned the following answers:

To The Honorable the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court have considered the questions propounded by an order adopted on June 29, 1934, and transmitted on July 5, 1934, after the prorogation of the General Court. Copy of the order is hereto annexed. The following opinion is respectfully submitted:

The questions relate to a pending bill entitled “An Act relative to the unauthorized practice of law and prohibiting certain acts and practices.” The proposed bill by §§ 1 and 2 revises respectively §§46 and 47 of G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 221, by § 3 repeals § 49 of G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 221, and by § 4 enacts expressly that nothing in the act shall be construed as a limitation upon the power of the courts to decide what acts constitute the practice of law, or to enjoin and punish as a contempt of court unlawful practices of the law.

It is inherent in the judicial department of government under the Constitution to control the practice of the law, the admission to the bar of persons found qualified to act as attorneys at law and the removal from that position of those once admitted and found to be unfaithful to their trust. While the judicial department cannot be circumscribed or restricted in the performance of these duties, appropriate and essential assistance in discharging them may be afforded by the enactment of statutes. As the questions are framed and as a general proposition, valid permission to practise law cannot be given by the General Court except subject to the requirements for admission to the bar established by the judicial department. Opinion of the Justices, 279 Mass. 607.

So far as the practice of the law relates to the performance of the functions of an attorney or counsellor at law before the courts, it comprises mastery of the facts and law constituting the cause of action or legal proceeding of whatever nature, the preparation of pleadings, process, and other papers incident to such action or proceeding, and the management and trial of the action or proceeding on behalf of clients before judicial tribunals. These matters closely concern the courts. Legislation forbidding such practice of the law by corporations or associations, or by individuals other than members of the bar, would be within the competency of the General Court. It would tend to enhance the effectiveness of the judicial department. Crimes might be established for the infraction of prohibitions of such practice of the law. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 221, § 41. Commonwealth v. Grant, 201 Mass. 458. Civil remedies in equity or otherwise for the prevention of such infractions might be provided and made plain.

It would not be within the competency of the General Court to enact legislation designed to permit such practice of the law “by corporations or associations or by individuals other than members of the bar of the Commonwealth.” Permission to practise law is within the exclusive cognizance of the judicial department. The practice of the law is personal. It is open only to individuals proved to the satisfaction of the court to possess sufficient general knowledge and adequate special qualifications as to learning in the law and to be of good moral character. After one has been sanctioned in these respects, the oath as an attorney must be taken, whereby one becomes an officer of the court and subject to its discipline for violation of his obligations even to the extent of removal from his office. A dual trust is imposed on attorneys at law: they must act with all good fidelity both to the courts and to their clients. They are bound by canons of ethics which have been the growth of long experience and which are enforced by the courts. Matter of Cohen, 261 Mass. 484. The relation of an attorney to his client is preeminently confidential. In addition to adequate learning, it demands on the part of the attorney undivided allegiance, a conspicuous degree of faithfulness and disinterestedness, absolute integrity, and utter renunciation of every personal advantage conflicting in any way directly or indirectly with the interests of his client. Only a human being can conform to these exacting requirements. Artificial creations such as corporations or associations cannot meet these prerequisites.

Practice of law under modern conditions consists in no small part of work performed outside of any court and having no immediate relation to proceedings in court. It embraces conveyancing, the giving of legal advice on a large variety of subjects, and the preparation and execution of legal instruments covering an extensive field of business and trust relations and other affairs. Although these transactions may have no direct connection with court proceedings, they are always subject to become involved in litigation. They require in many aspects a high degree of legal skill, a wide experience with men and affairs, and great capacity for adaptation to difficult and complex situations. These “customary functions of an attorney or counsellor at law” (as they are described in question 2 of the order) bear an intimate relation to the administration of justice by the courts. No valid distinction, so far as concerns the questions set forth in the order, can be drawn between that part of the work of the lawyer which involves appearance in court and that part which involves advice and drafting of instruments in his office. The work of the office lawyer is the groundwork for future possible contests in courts. It has profound effect on the whole scheme of the administration of justice. It is performed with that possibility in mind, and otherwise would hardly be needed. In this country the practice of law includes both forms of legal service; there is no separation, as in England, into barristers and solicitors. It is of importance to the welfare of the public that these manifold customary functions be performed by persons possessed of adequate learning and skill, of sound moral character, and acting at all times under the heavy trust obligation to clients which rests upon all attorneys. The underlying reasons which prevent corporations, associations and individuals other than members of the bar from appearing before the courts apply with equal force to the performance of these customary functions of attorneys and counsellors at law outside of courts. Decisions of the courts, some of which deal with statutes, are unanimous on these points, so far as we are aware.^* If these established principles as to the practice of law are ever to be changed, the judicial department of the government must act to that end.

Individuals have been permitted to manage, prosecute or defend their own actions, suits, and proceedings, and to defend prosecutions against themselves except when the public welfare demanded otherwise, and this does not constitute the practice of law. See G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 221, § 48; c. 277, §§ 47, 48. The occasional drafting of simple deeds, and other legal instruments when not conducted as an occupation or yielding substantial income may fall outside the practice of the law. The gratuitous furnishing of legal aid to the poor and unfortunate without means in the pursuit of any civil remedy, as matter of charity, the search of records of real estate to ascertain what may there be disclosed without giving opinion or advice as to the legal effect of what is found, the work of an accountant dissociated from legal advice, do not constitute the practice of law. There may be other kindred pursuits of the same character. All these activities, however, lie close to the border line and may easily become or be accompanied by practice of the law. The giving of advice as to investments in stocks, bonds and other securities, in real or personal property, and in making tax returns falls within the same category. The exception in lines 42 to 49 of § 1 of the proposed bill enabling “any bank or trust company lawfully doing business in the commonwealth,” notwithstanding the provisions of the bill, to furnish “legal information or legal advice with respect to investments, taxation, stocks, bonds, notes or other securities or property” transcends in some particulars the limits permissible to those not members of the bar and would comprehend, if stretched to its limits, a considerable practice of law.

It follows that the answers to questions 1, 2 and 4 are that legislation forbidding the practice of law as therein described by corporations or associations or by individuals other than members of the bar of the Commonwealth is permissible, but that legislation permitting the practice of law by such persons would not be constitutionally competent for the General Court.

It is not practicable or necessary to answer question 3 further than has already been done and as is set forth at length in Opinion of the Justices, 279 Mass. 607.

Question 5 is answered in the negative. Nearly all of the special powers and privileges set forth in §§ 1 and 2 of the proposed bill relate to the practice of law. Exceptions may be made to prohibitory provisions, but permission cannot thereby be conferred to practise law except subject to the judicial department of the government.

Abthub P. Pugg.

John C. Cbosby.

Edwabd P. Piebce.

Feed T. Field.

Chables H. Donahue.

Henby T. Lummus.

Stanley E. Qua.

* Matter of Co-operative Law Co. 198 N. Y. 479. People v. Alfani, 227 N. Y. 334, 337-338. People v. Peoples Stock Yards State Bank, 344 Ill. 462, 474. In re Eastern Idaho Loan & Trust Co. 49 Idaho, 280, 287. People v. Peoples Trust Co. 180 App. Div. (N. Y.) 494, 497. In re Otterness, 181 Minn. 254. People v. Merchants Protective Corp. 189 Cal. 531, 538. State v. Merchants Protective Corp. 105 Wash. 12, 17. State v. Retail Credit Men’s Association, 163 Tenn. 450. People v. Title Guarantee & Trust Co. 227 N. Y. 366, 372. Boykin v. Hopkins, 174 Ga. 511, 517-523. Black & White Operating Co. Inc. v. Grosbart, 107 N. J. L. 63, 68. Unger v. Landlords’ Management Corp. 114 N. J. Eq. 68, 72. People v. Motorists Association, 354 Ill. 595, 599. People v. Association of Real Estate Tax-payers, 354 Ill. 102, 109. Land Title Abstract & Trust Co. v. Dworken, 129 Ohio St. 23. See Creditors National Clearing House, Inc. v. Bannwart, 227 Mass. 579; State v. St. Louis Union Trust Co. 335 Mo. 845.