Marked for life by the unauthorized practice of law?

Kashmir Hill reports yesterday on Above the Law about a craigslist ad posted "for a student lawyer who is familar (sic) with the divorce laws of Illinois. Someone who is studying family law and would help assist me in my situation. Thus far I have written out my petition and obtain documents to be filed. But, I need someone to review my petition and statement before it is presented to the court. As a token of appreciation I will issue a check of $45.00 and two tattoo needles for two free tattoos (black and grey)."

The ad was apparently posted by a 27-year old Chicago woman named Lillian. Above the Law says it was tipped by a University of Chicago law student who, presumably, resisted whatever temptation the ad afforded.

Law students can not practice law in Illinois -- without jeopardizing their future careers -- except under certain limited conditions (specified in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711).

According to Rule 711(b)(1), law students may, with appropriate supervision, work for "a legal aid bureau, legal assistance program, organization, or clinic chartered by the State of Illinois or approved by a law school approved by the American Bar Association."

Every Chicago law school operates one or clinics which provide services to persons of limited means in a number of legal specialties. For instance:

• The Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic of the University of Chicago ("Currently the Clinic has the following projects: Appellate Advocacy, Civil Rights and Police Accountability, Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Employment Discrimination, Immigrant Children's Advocacy, Housing Development, and Mental Health.");

• The Elder Law Clinic of Loyola University of Chicago ("[S]tudents represent clients in elder abuse and adult guardianship cases. Students with fewer than 51 credits can represent clients in social security and medicare/medicaid appeals. In addition to representing individual clients, all Elder Law Clinic students participate in law/system reform projects and public education projects.")

• DePaul University offers The Center for Justice in Capital Cases;

• The Fair Housing Clinic of John Marshall Law School; and
  

• The Low Income Tax Clinic of the Chicago-Kent College of Law ("[C]ommon issues include proving a taxpayer's entitlement to the Earned Income Tax Credit (including filing status and dependents), establishing status as an Innocent Spouse, substantiating business or personal deductions claimed on tax returns, seeking relief from various civil penalties, and stopping the Internal Revenue Service from seizing a client's wages or other assets.")

Chicago-Kent also offers "fee for service" clinics in the areas of employment discrimination and civil rights, health and disability, immigration, criminal law, and family law. I was unable to find anything on the Kent website, however, that suggests that their family law clinic will accept tattoos in lieu of money.