Saw that one coming

Everyone is out looking for a job these days but did you know that some professions require that you go to school AND take a test to be able to be employed in that profession?  Yeah, there are.  

Take lawyers, for instance.  You have to go to school for at least 2.5 years (at $800/unit), then take the/a bar exam for your state of choice (costs vary from state to state) and then you get to be crowned "attorney."

Other professions that require a license to be employed include:

• medicine
• nursing
• dentistry
• teaching
• veterinary medicine
• pharmacy
• psychology
• engineering
• architecture

Another profession that requires a license is that of a Certified Public Accountant (aka a bean counter).  So, to get a CPA certification, you need an undergrad degree (Bachelor's of Administration) and some states require that you also get a Master's Degree.  Then there's the test and the continuing education requirements and you'd think that anyone who had to go through all that to become an official bean counter would do whatever it took to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

You'd think, wouldn't you?  Enter Lady who came in my library the other day.  Seems Lady's folks were in the market for an estate plan to protect their assets.  Lady was surfing the web one day when she came across a CPA's website.  

Seems CPA was advertising online that for $500 she would draft an estate plan for two people that includes a Revocable Living Trust, a Pour-over Will, and Heath and Financial Durable Powers of Attorney.  That's a pretty good deal.  Two people for $500?  Heck, the package the wife and I got was for little over $2,500 and that was with a real life attorney who specialized in estate planning. 

Now, if I'm paying little over $2,500 for a package prepared by an estate planning attorney, imagine what $500 from a CPA (i.e. someone without any legal education) is going to look like?  Regardless, Lady's folks know a deal when they see one and they pay their money, got their package and, years down the road when Lady's folks die off, Lady finds that the estate plan was not worth the paper it was printed on (but you saw that one coming a mile away - didn't you?!).

Lady is furious and comes steaming into my law library.  She wants justice.  She wants her pound of flesh.  She wants heads to roll (forgetting the fact that Lady's parents were none too bright buying an estate plan from a CPA (i.e. someone who does not practice law)).  I suggested Lady take a look at:

• California Forms of Pleading and Practice (Lexis, Vol. 33 Chp. 380 (Negligence))
• California Civil Practice: Torts (TR)
• American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated (TR)

I also suggested she talk to and file a complaint with the District Attorney for the CPA's unlawful practice of law (what with not being a lawyer, and all).  Then, for good measure, I suggested she contact the California Board of Accountancy because I'm betting they have rules against this sort of thing (or at least they should have).

Yep, there are some unscrupulous "professional" people out in employment land.  Good thing there are law Librarians who are around to help you get back on your feet when you get the wind knocked out of you.