This is the only way to protect the company and its customers from the possibility of doing business with fraudulent attorneys who have been disbarred.
What are the repercussions of hiring or using the services of a professional whose license has been suspended or revoked? Let's look into not only the potential dangers, but also the factors that led to the occurrence of this event.
New York Lawyer Bars Hopeful Immigrants
Law firms are extremely tight knit companies that build their success on reputation for winning cases, and in effect the reputation of their lawyers on board.
Take the case of Owolabi Salis, a New York attorney with a criminal record for engaging in unlawful practices. According to documentation submitted in New York's First Appellate District, he was a New York attorney accused of submitting more than 1,000 "fraudulent and frivolous" immigration petitions and was disbarred for six years.
In 2022, New York's Attorney Grievance Committee, which probes attorneys' professional behavior, accused Owolabi Salis of filing 1,185 frivolous green card petitions over the course of eight years. This was not Salis’ first run-in with the law. In 2016, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office accused him of tricking more than thirty customers into believing they were eligible for green cards while receiving over $5,000 from each of them.
Even though he was exonerated in his first case, it should have raised red flags for future employers, business partners and clients. Wherever possible, a lawyer’s credentials should be monitored in real-time. When disciplinary action such as disbarment occurs, it should be learned of in an instant.
The Repercussions of Hiring Without a Background Check
In the case of Salis, there is the potential for a great deal of harm and/or liability to stakeholders flowing from the criminal charges and the revocation of Salis’ license to practice law. Continuing to work or do business with Salis after his disbarment could have resulted in more than just damage to a lawyer’s or a law firm’s reputation; it could also have resulted in harm to clients. Salis had clearly demonstrated a willingness to engage in dubious legal practices irrespective of what the law or code of ethics requires of him, and thus it would not have been surprising if Salis continued to practice law in some form even after his disbarment.
If Salis had been a member of a law firm, the whole situation could have drawn his firm into the specter of legal liability. Although acquitted for his 2016 transgressions, this run-in alone should have been a red flag during the hiring process and should have been cause for close watch of Salis in the course of his relationship with any employer-law firm. As a general statement, a firm that employs or partners with disbarred attorneys or practitioners with previous criminal charges could accrue a heightened responsibility and may be more likely to incur liability for the actions of a lawyer associated with the firm (and who is held out to be a lawyer of that firm or employer to the public).
The Importance of License Verification
Verification of licensing credentials is essential for establishing the legitimacy of a professional in regulated sectors and of a company that employs such specialists. A license verification can offer information about the history and credentials of a professional, in addition to assisting in the identification of any lapses in judgment or integrity that may pose a risk to the company as well as to the customers it serves.
Verifying a license prior to beginning a business arrangement and throughout an employment agreement is essential for preventing a variety of future complications for the company. These issues may include:
- Financial losses,
- Legal disputes,
- Customer loss,
- Loss of trust,
- And long-term reputational damage.
This is especially true within the legal field. When attorneys work with sensitive topics, such as immigration regulations or other similar legal issues, businesses have a responsibility to conduct license credential checks on their employees and partners to ensure that their clients are not put in any further danger. These customers have already been through a lot, and they are looking for assistance from someone trustworthy and reputable because they do not want to put themselves in any additional precarious situations.
With both a license verification and a background check, the individual is evaluated for any additional potential red flags, such as a criminal record or other professional misconduct. Therefore, businesses must take this important precaution to protect themselves and their customers. Credentialing not only increases consumer trust, but also serves as an indicator for determining the quality of services.
