”[I]t is common knowledge ... that a large, if not the greater, part of the work of the bar to-day is out of court or office work. Counsel and advice, the drawing of agreements, the organization of corporations and preparing papers connected therewith, the drafting of legal documents of all kinds, including wills, are activities which have long been classed as law practice.”
How later courts described this case
- ”[I]t is common knowledge ... that a large, if not the greater, part of the work of the bar to-day is out of court or office work. Counsel and advice, the drawing of agreements, the organization of corporations and preparing papers connected therewith, the drafting of legal documents of all kinds, including wills, are activities which have long been classed as law practice.”
- “The reason why preparatory study, educational qualifications, experience, examination and license by the courts are required, is not to protect the bar ... but to protect the public.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
Hiscock, Ch. J.
I concur in the conclusions reached by Judge Crane on the ground that there was evidence consisting of defendant’s sign and repeated acts which permitted the trial court to find that the defendant held himself out to the public as being entitled to and did practice law in violation of the provisions of section 270 of the Penal Law.