---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-19-51. Unauthorized practice of law forbidden.
collection: code
id: 15-19-51
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-19-51 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-19-51
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-19-51.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-19-51/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch12-24-(v13a)-2015-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cbb30143_0#page=422
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / ATTORNEYS / REGULATION OF PRACTICE OF LAW
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-19-51. Unauthorized practice of law forbidden.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person other than a duly licensed attorney at law:

(1) To practice or appear as an attorney at law for any person other than himself in any court of this state or before any judicial body;

(2) To make it a business to practice as an attorney at law for any person other than himself in any of such courts;

(3) To hold himself out to the public or otherwise to any person as being entitled to practice law;

(4) To render or furnish legal services or advice;

(5) To furnish attorneys or counsel;

(6) To render legal services of any kind in actions or proceedings of any nature;

(7) To assume or use or advertise the title of ‘‘lawyer,’’ ‘‘attorney,’’ ‘‘attorney at law,’’ or equivalent terms in any language in such manner as to convey the impression that he is entitled to practice law or is entitled to furnish legal advice, services, or counsel; or

(8) To advertise that either alone or together with, by, or through any person, whether a duly and regularly admitted attorney at law or not, he has, owns, conducts, or maintains an office for the practice of law or for furnishing legal advice, services, or counsel.

(b) Unless otherwise provided by law or by rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, it shall be unlawful for any corporation, voluntary association, or company to do or perform any of the acts recited in subsection (a) of this Code section.

## History

Ga. L. 1931, p. 191, § 1; Code 1933, §§ 9-402, 9-403.

## Cross References

False or misleading advertising of goods or services generally, § 10-1-390 et seq. Use of third-year law students and law school staff instructors as legal assistants in criminal proceedings, § 15-18-22. Grant or denial of commission or recommission; grounds; unauthorized practice of law, § 45-17-2.3. Third-year law students, Ga. Sup. Ct., Rules 91 — 96.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘Offenders Beware — The UPL Department Is on the Case,’’ see 9 Ga. St. B.J. 38 (2003).