Section 74.15. Unauthorized practice of law.

 

(1)  Except as set forth in sub. (2) , no collector or other employee of a licensee may in attempting to collect an account, engage in the practice of law. This includes but is not limited to the preparation of a summons or complaint or the appearance on behalf of any creditor, except when called as a witness by the plaintiff's attorney in open court, before any court including the clerk of any small claims court in an action on the debt or in garnishment proceedings. It is not considered the practice of law for an employee of a licensee to prepare a summons or complaint under the direction of an attorney which will subsequently be signed and filed by the plaintiff's attorney. This section does not prohibit the appearance of an owner or officer of a licensed collection agency in court for the purpose of obtaining judgment on a debt owed to the licensee directly.

(2)  Sub. (1) does not apply to an attorney who is an employee of the collection agency.

CR 06-045 : cr. Register September 2006 No. 609 , eff. 10-1-06.