Nevada Revised Statutes

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285 (2026)

Unlawful practice of law; criminal penalties; initiation of civil action by State Bar of Nevada

✓ current as of July 2026

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NRS 7.285 Unlawful practice of law; criminal penalties; initiation of civil action by State Bar of Nevada.

1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 125E.310, a person shall not practice law in this state if the person:

(a) Is not an active member of the State Bar of Nevada or otherwise authorized to practice law in this state pursuant to the rules of the Supreme Court; or

(b) Is suspended or has been disbarred from membership in the State Bar of Nevada pursuant to the rules of the Supreme Court.

2. A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 is guilty of:

(a) For a first offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, a misdemeanor.

(b) For a second offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, a gross misdemeanor.

(c) For a third and any subsequent offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

3. The State Bar of Nevada may bring a civil action to secure an injunction and any other appropriate relief against a person who violates this section.

(Added to NRS by 1963, 385; A 1999, 1333; 2023, 2257)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 20 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1986–2025 · leading case: Matter of Discipline of Droz, 160 P.3d 881 (Nev. 2007).

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Matter of Discipline of Droz, 160 P.3d 881 (Nev. 2007). · cites it 3× “4 We recognize that NRS 7.285 prescribes criminal penalties for the unauthorized practice of law.”

Eby v. Johnston Law Off., P.C., 518 P.3d 517 (Nev. 2022). · cites it 5× “(citing SCR 77 and NRS 7.285). However, unlike the power-of-attorney statutes at issue in this case, the statute addressed in Martinez did not purport to convey any sort of specific authority concerning claims and litigation to an agent.”

Salman v. Newell, 885 P.2d 607 (Nev. 1994). · cites it 3× “” Salman suggests that this conclusion is incorrect because it is premised on NRS 7.285, and that statute was never passed by the legislature.”

Guerin v. Guerin, 993 P.2d 1256 (Nev. 2000). “See NRS 7.285. In addition, SCR 77 provides that, with certain inapplicable exceptions, no person may practice law as an officer of the courts in this state who is not an active member of the state bar.”

Sunde v. Contel of California, 915 P.2d 298 (Nev. 1996). “Sound policy reasons support requiring entities to be represented only by licensed counsel: [The reasons] are principally that the conduct of litigation by a nonlawyer creates unusual burdens not only for the party he represents but as well for his adversaries and the court.”

Martinez v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Court of the State of Nevada Ex Rel. Clark Cnty., 729 P.2d 487 (Nev. 1986). “See SCR 77; NRS 7.285. Therefore, petitioner has no right to be represented by an agent other than counsel in a court of law.”

Sunde v. Contel of California, 915 P.2d 298 (Nev. 1996). “Sound policy reasons support requiring entities to be represented only by licensed counsel: [The reasons] are principally that the conduct of litigation by a nonlawyer creates unusual burdens not only for the party he represents but as well for his adversaries and the court. The…”

Eby v. Johnston Law Off., P.C., 2022 NV 63 (Nev. 2022). · cites it 15× “(citing SCR 77 and NRS 7.285). However, unlike the power-of-attorney statutes at issue in this case, the statute addressed in Martinez did not purport to convey any sort of specific authority concerning claims and litigation to an agent.”

Middleton Jr v. Bank of Am. NA (D. Nev. 2021). · cites it 4× “1986) (citing Supreme Court 25 Rule 77; Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285 ); see also Supreme Court Rules 42–72.”

Wallace v. Las Vegas Metro. Police Dep't (D. Nev. 2023). · cites it 4× “3 See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285 (1). A person engages in the practice of law when he makes a 4 judgment regarding “the legal sufficiency of .”

Cohen v. Padda c/w 81172, 2022 NV 18 (Nev. 2022). · cites it 2× “NRS 7.285(1)(b) (prohibiting a person with a suspended law license from practicing law); SCR 77 (requiring every practicing attorney to be an active member of the state bar).”

Langford v. Dzurenda (D. Nev. 2020). · cites it 2× “Under NRS 7.285, a person must be “an active member of the State 12 Bar of Nevada or otherwise authorized to practice law in [Nevada]” to be a true attorney.”

Show all 20 citing cases →

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285(1)(a): 2 cases

Eby v. Johnston Law Off., P.C., 518 P.3d 517 (Nev. 2022). “(citing SCR 77 and NRS 7.285). However, unlike the power-of-attorney statutes at issue in this case, the statute addressed in Martinez did not purport to convey any sort of specific authority concerning claims and litigation to an agent.”

Eby v. Johnston Law Off., P.C., 2022 NV 63 (Nev. 2022). “(citing SCR 77 and NRS 7.285). However, unlike the power-of-attorney statutes at issue in this case, the statute addressed in Martinez did not purport to convey any sort of specific authority concerning claims and litigation to an agent.”

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285(1)(b): 2 cases

Cohen v. Padda c/w 81172, 2022 NV 18 (Nev. 2022). “NRS 7.285(1)(b) (prohibiting a person with a suspended law license from practicing law); SCR 77 (requiring every practicing attorney to be an active member of the state bar).”

Cohen v. Padda c/w 81172, 2022 NV 18 (Nev. 2022).

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285(2): 2 cases

Eby v. Johnston Law Off., P.C., 518 P.3d 517 (Nev. 2022). “(citing SCR 77 and NRS 7.285). However, unlike the power-of-attorney statutes at issue in this case, the statute addressed in Martinez did not purport to convey any sort of specific authority concerning claims and litigation to an agent.”

Eby v. Johnston Law Off., P.C., 2022 NV 63 (Nev. 2022). “(citing SCR 77 and NRS 7.285). However, unlike the power-of-attorney statutes at issue in this case, the statute addressed in Martinez did not purport to convey any sort of specific authority concerning claims and litigation to an agent.”

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.285(3): 1 case

Matter of Discipline of Droz, 160 P.3d 881 (Nev. 2007). “4 We recognize that NRS 7.285 prescribes criminal penalties for the unauthorized practice of law.”

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