Title XXXII — COURTS

484.010. Practice of the law and law business defined. — 1. The "practice of the law" is hereby defined to be and is the appearance as an advocate in a representative capacity or the drawing of papers, pleadings or documents or the performance of any act in such capacity in conne…

484.020. Who shall engage in the practice of law or do law business — penalty. — 1. No person shall engage in the practice of law or do law business, as defined in section 484.010, or both, unless he shall have been duly licensed therefor and while his license therefor is in full…

484.025. Residential loans, imposition of fee to complete documentation not deemed engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. — No bank or lending institution that makes residential loans and imposes a fee of less than two hundred dollars for completing residential loan docume…

484.040. Power to admit to practice vested in supreme court. — The power to admit and license persons to practice as attorneys and counselors in the courts of record of this state, or in any of them, is hereby vested exclusively in the supreme court and shall be regulated by rule…

484.053. Supreme court to furnish director with list of persons currently licensed to practice law in Missouri — tax delinquency, effect of. — The director of revenue is hereby authorized, pursuant to a cooperative agreement with the supreme court, to develop procedures which sha…

484.125. Criminal background check, fingerprint submission. — 1. The Missouri supreme court may require that fingerprint submissions be made as part of an application of licensure for admission or reinstatement to the Missouri Bar in order to engage in the practice of law or law …

484.130. Compensation of attorney governed by agreement — lien upon client's cause of action. — The compensation of an attorney or counselor for his services is governed by agreement, express or implied, which is not restrained by law. From the commencement of an action or the se…

484.140. Attorney may contract for percentage of proceeds of claim — notice of lien to be given to defendant. — In all suits in equity and in all actions or proposed actions at law, whether arising ex contractu or ex delicto, it shall be lawful for an attorney at law either befor…

484.150. Division of fees forbidden, when — penalty. — 1. It shall be unlawful for any licensed attorney in the state of Missouri to divide any fees or compensation received by him in the practice of law or in doing law business with any person not a licensed attorney or any firm…

484.160. Judgment for costs and damages rendered against attorney, when. — If an attorney or counselor at law shall commence an action and fail to prosecute the same, or if any action so commenced shall be dismissed for want of his attention, or if he shall bring the wrong action…

484.170. Partners of prosecuting attorneys not to defend. — Where two or more licensed attorneys at law of this state are associated together as copartners in the practice as attorneys or counselors at law, and one of such attorneys shall be the prosecuting or assistant prosecuti…

484.190. Powers to suspend or remove. — Any attorney or counselor at law may be removed or suspended from practice in the courts of this state for any of the following reasons: (1) If he be convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude; (2) If he unlawfully retain h…

484.200. Charges, where exhibited. — Charges against an offending attorney shall be in writing and verified, and may be preferred by any member of the bar in good standing, or by any judge of a court of record required by law to be a person learned in the law. The charges may be …

484.210. Day for hearing — citation, where served. — The court in which such charges shall be exhibited shall fix a day for the hearing, allowing a reasonable time, and the clerk shall issue a citation accordingly, with a copy of the charges annexed, which may be served upon the …

484.220. Citation and charges, how served. — The copy of the charges and citation may be served upon the accused by any officer authorized by law to serve writs issued by such court and in any county of this state, and if the accused be not found in this state then reasonable not…

484.230. Proceedings on failure to appear. — If the party served with such citation shall fail to appear according to the command thereof, obedience may be enforced by attachment or the court may proceed ex parte. ­­-------- (RSMo 1939 § 13332) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11711; 1919…

484.240. Removal or suspension without trial. — If the charge allege a conviction for any criminal offense involving moral turpitude, the court shall, on production of the record of such conviction, remove the attorney so convicted or suspend such attorney from practice for a lim…

484.250. Trial by court or commissioner. — All trials of charges preferred against attorneys shall be by the court, and in all cases of conviction the court shall pronounce judgment of removal or suspension according to the nature of the facts found; except that, if the charge be…

484.260. Defendant may except to ruling and appeal from judgment. — In all cases of a trial of charges in the circuit court, the defendant may except to any ruling or decision of the court, and may prosecute an appeal or writ of error to the supreme court, in all respects as in a…

484.270. Judgment operates as removal or suspension — reinstatement, how secured. — Every final judgment or order of removal or suspension, made in pursuance of the provisions of this chapter by any court so authorized, shall operate, while it continues in force, as a removal or …

484.350. Standards for representation to be updated and adopted statewide, when. — Recognizing that Missouri children have a right to adequate and effective representation in child welfare cases, the September 17, 1996, Missouri supreme court standards for representation by guard…