Mr. and Ms. Stamps were both
lawyers. They both took the Louisiana bar and failed.
While waiting to take the
Louisiana bar a second time, they both found temporary work as attorneys
in North Carolina for Locklear.
They were providing legal
services, and charging for it.
They were representing
themselves as attorneys.
They neglected to mention
this on their application to take the Louisiana bar.
Eventually, the Stamps both
passed the Louisiana bar and moved back to Louisiana.
Locklear was investigated by
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), and in the course of that
investigation, they determined that the Stamps had been practicing law in
North Carolina without a license.
A violation of Rule 5.5.
Locklear was disbarred in
North Carolina for other nefarious reasons.
The ODC voted to suspend the
Stamps for two years. But two members of the ODC dissented to the
leniency of the decision, so it was sent to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
The Stamps unsuccessfully
argued that they were only working as paralegals, not as lawyers.
However there was a lot of evidence (documents, testimony) that they had
been performing legal services.
The Louisiana Supreme Court
permanently disbarred the Stamps.
One issue that made the
situation much worse for the Stamps was that they attempted a cover-up.
Disciplinary boards often look towards repentance and admitting mistakes
when they make recommendation for penalties.
