What is a Vegas Lawyer?
A Vegas lawyer is an attorney who is barred in the State of Nevada, in good standing, and is permitted to practice law within the state. In order to be a Vegas lawyer an individual must have graduated from an accredited law school within the United States or have done comparable training that meets the standard requirement of the The Nevada Bar Association. In order to be barred in the State of Nevada a Vegas Lawyer must have passed the bar exam, the MPRE and have passed the character and fitness evaluation performed by the state.
The bar exam in Nevada is a two day exam that is administered by the Nevada Bar Association twice a year, usually in February and July. The average number of applicants who pass the Nevada Bar Exam is around 55%. The first day of the Nevada bar exam involves 2 three hour sessions. The first session comprises the Multi-State Performance Test, of MPT. This test is used to gauge an applicants ability to take evidence and apply it to substantive and procedural law concluding in a memo or brief written by the applicant. The latter session consists of 4 essay questions based on Nevada state law. The second day of the bar exam in Nevada is the Multi-State Bar Exam. This exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions taken by applicants throughout the United States. The topics covered in the multi-state bar exam include:
■ criminal law & procedure
■ property
■ contracts
■ evidence
■ constitutional law
■ torts
The state of Nevada apportions the grading of the exam by counting the MBE as ⅓ of the overall score with the MPRE and the essay questions comprising the other ⅔ of the total score.
In addition to passing the bar exam, a Vegas lawyer applicant must pass the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam, or MPRE. The MPRE is a standardized 60 multiple choice question exam that gauges an applicants ability to understand and implement ethical situations dealing with the practice of law. The questions encompass areas including fees, advertising, privileges, disclosure and a number of other issues that examine the applicants ability to practice law. Nevada requires a passing score of 85 in order to become a Vegas Lawyer barred in the state.
The Vegas Lawyer is also required to meet the character and fitness qualifications of the Nevada Bar Association. Due to the high position of responsibility that comes with the privilege of practicing law each state requires an individual to submit a character and fitness form that is evaluated by a state commission. This form must be completed and returned to the Nevada Board of Bar Examiners before any applicant may sit for the Nevada Bar Exam. This form will consist of all relevant information that will enable the bar association to investigate the applicant and determine whether they are worthy of the ability to practice law. The bar association will ask for all relevant information including credit reports, criminal record, previous addresses, educational background and military service. The character and fitness commission will also request fingerprinting and official transcripts from educational institutions.
As a Vegas lawyer, an individual is held to higher standard of conduct because of the ability of an attorney to take advantage of those individuals who are not familiar with the law. Nevada does not have any formal reciprocity agreements with any other states so if you are considering becoming a Vegas Lawyer you may want to contact the Nevada Bar Association to discuss practicing in Vegas without having taken the Nevada Bar Exam.
Where can I find if an Nevada Lawyer is in good standing?
If you are contemplating hiring a Vegas lawyer it is best to do your own homework first. You will want to make sure that the Vegas lawyer who is going to represent you is properly licensed and in good standing in the State. If you want to find information on the standing of Vegas Lawyers you should go to the “find a lawyer” link at the top of the Nevada Bar Association’s website at www.nvbar.org. The website gives you numerous search options on how to find a Vegas lawyer who meets your needs. You may search by location, practice area or contact information.
In addition you can seek a Vegas referral from the laws.com website. At the top of this page you will find a link that states “find a lawyer” by clicking on that you will be prompted to enter information including your name, telephone number, e-mail address, location, and description of your legal problem. Someone from laws.com will then notify you, either over the phone or through e-mail and give you referral advise on what lawyers in your area may be able to help you with your legal problem.
How do I report Disciplinary Action against Vegas Lawyers?
Disciplinary actions against Vegas Lawyers are serious matters. Vegas Lawyers are responsible for upholding the ethical and legal aspects of the profession on a 24/7 basis. Being a resident of Las Vegas gives an individual, even attorneys the opportunity to become irresponsible, especially in gambling. If a Vegas lawyer is not upholding his ethical responsibilities or is deficient in his or her ability to represent you then that matter should be brought to the attention of the State Bar of Nevada Office of Bar Counsel. You must file a complaint against Vegas lawyer directly, and in writing, to the Office of Bar Counsel at:
State Bar of Nevada Office of Bar Counsel
600 E. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702 382-2200
Your complaint should include: the name of the Vegas lawyer; description of the case the lawyer was involved in; chronological timeline of events leading to the belief that disciplinary charges were necessary; copies of documents pertinent to the complaint; names of witnesses and other parties; and the name and address of the complainant. The Office of Bar Counsel, after concluding its investigation, will determine whether sanctions should be taken against the Vegas Lawyer. The sanctions imposed can be as minor as a private admonishing by the State Supreme Court to disbarment. All matters involving complaints against a Vegas lawyer are kept confidential until there have been sanctions imposed. If that is the case the disciplinary matter and the resulting penalties will be a matter of public record. Remember, you do not need to be represented by Vegas Lawyers in order to report violations of professional conduct to the Office of Bar Counsel. If you suspect vegas lawyers of not upholding the ethical and moral standards of the profession, whether you are a client, colleague or private citizen then you should report the matter for investigation.
What questions should I ask a Vegas Lawyer?
When you are interviewing Vegas Lawyers about possible representation you should have a number of specific questions ready to ask, including:
■ Where did you go to law school?
■ Are you barred in the state of Nevada?
■ Have you ever been disciplined by any bar association?
■ How often do you handle cases like mine?
■ Will you be handling my case personally?
■ What do you see as the problem with my case?
■ What do you see as the result of this litigation?
■ Are you familiar with the court procedures and personnel in the filing jurisdiction?
■ Have you ever had a gambling problem?
