Pennsylvania · Paralegals practicing law
Paralegals practicing law in Pennsylvania
If a non-lawyer took your money in Pennsylvania — under the guise of paralegals practicing law — Pennsylvania law is on your side. Here's how the claim works.
Reviewed July 2026 by the FakeLawyerReport editorial team
Why this is illegal in Pennsylvania
Paralegals must work under a licensed attorney. When one takes on clients directly or gives legal advice, it's UPL — even if they used to work at a real firm.
Pennsylvania's UPL statute: 42 Pa. C.S. § 2524
Practicing law or holding yourself out as a lawyer in Pennsylvania without a license is a misdemeanor of the third degree for a first offense and a first-degree misdemeanor on repeat.
Penalties in Pennsylvania
Up to 1 year (first offense) or 5 years (subsequent) plus fines, and civil injunctions from the PA Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board.
What you can recover
- A full refund of every dollar you paid.
- Statutory or civil damages under Pennsylvania's consumer-protection laws.
- Attorneys' fees in most cases — often no out-of-pocket cost.
- Referral to a licensed Pennsylvania attorney to try to fix the underlying case.
How to report paralegals practicing law in Pennsylvania
- File with Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board / PA Bar Association — the state bar's UPL committee.
- File a consumer complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
- Submit your case on this site for a free confidential review with a licensed Pennsylvania attorney who handles UPL recovery.
Related resources
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