On Thursday, December 15, 2022, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania suspended New Jersey attorney Shevelle McPherson for unauthorized practice of law. The case is entitled “Office of the Disciplinary Counsel v. Shevelle McPherson” with Case #142 DB 2022.
The charges cited rules of professional conduct 1.1, 1.3,5.5(a), 5.5(b)(1), 5.5(b)(2), 7.1, 8.4(c), and 8.4(d) which states that :
A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation.
A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.
A lawyer who is not admitted to practice in this jurisdiction shall not except as authorized by these Rules, Pa. B.A.R. 302 or other law, establish an office or other systematic and continuous presence in this jurisdiction for the practice of law.
A lawyer who is not admitted to practice in this jurisdiction shall not hold out to the public or otherwise represent that the lawyer is admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction.
A lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer’s services. A communication is false or misleading if it contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or omits a fact necessary to make the statement considered as a whole not materially misleading.
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in prejudicial conduct to the administration of justice.
On November 15, 2022, through an Affidavit, Ms. McPherson declared her consent to the imposition of a one-year and one-day suspension, as jointly recommended by the Petitioner, Office of Disciplinary Counsel over a case of misconduct of practicing law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania while being administratively suspended.
The filing states:
‘Respondent engaged in the unauthorized practice of law during two periods: from October 17, 2018 through July 24, 2019, and from August 11, 2022 through June 29, 2022. During these periods, she represented seven clients in criminal prosecutions in Pennsylvania Courts.’
The filing continues:
‘In seeking reinstatement from the first of these administrative suspensions, Respondent filed with the Board a Statement of Compliance in which she represented that she had complied with applicable provisions of Rule 217, whe she had not, in fact, done so.’
In a Joint petition in support of Discipline against the respondent, McPherson was suspended by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
The Disposition states:
“And now, this 15th day of December 2022, upon consideration of the Recommendation of the Three-Member Panel of the Disciplinary Board, the Joint Petition in Support of Discipline on Consent is granted, and Shevelle McPherson is suspended on consent from the Bar of this Commonwealth for a period of one year and one day. Respondent shall comply with all the provisions of Pa.R.D.E. 217 and pay costs to the Disciplinary Board. See Pa.R.D.E. 208(g).”
As of today, Ms. McPherson practices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where she maintains her law firm, McPherson Law Offices, LLC. Her info can be found on EliteLawyer.com. She attended Seton Hall University graduating in 2001. She has been licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
