3.470 Attorney aiding unauthorized practice

Lawyers in Kentucky are not allowed to help someone practice law if that person isn't actually licensed to do so. This means a lawyer can't knowingly assist, support, or work with a non-lawyer who is acting like an attorney, whether that's giving legal advice, representing someone in court, or handling legal matters they're not qualified to handle.

If a lawyer breaks this rule, it counts as unprofessional conduct. That means the lawyer could face discipline from the state, just like they would for other ethics violations.

The point of this rule is to protect the public. Legal work requires training and licensing for good reason, and people deserve to know that whoever is helping them with a legal issue is actually qualified to do it. This rule stops lawyers from getting around that protection by teaming up with unlicensed individuals or letting them do legal work under the lawyer's name or supervision.