Deprived of license, but “in practice”: ex-lawyer to be tried in the US for a series of frauds

Tens of thousands of dollars for services without the right to provide them

A revealing case is unfolding in the US regarding a former lawyer who, having lost his right to practice, continued to represent clients and receive significant funds for this. This is not an isolated episode – the investigation has revealed a whole series of cases that are now classified as fraud.

Worked without a license for years

54-year-old David T. Schlendorf, a resident of Utah, was officially deprived of the right to practice law back in December 2022. Despite this, in 2025 he continued to provide legal services, posing as a current lawyer.

The first established episode concerns receiving $ 10 thousand for representing a client – after losing his license.

A scheme with many victims

During further investigation, law enforcement officers established that this was only the beginning. In general, the ex-lawyer:

represented at least five clients;
received about $60,000;
operated from 2023 to 2025 without any right to practice law.

Clients, as it turned out, were unaware of his loss of license and trusted him as a full-fledged lawyer.

New charges — new risks

Initially, Schlendorf was charged with fraud and illegal legal activities. However, now the list of charges has been significantly expanded:

four more episodes of fraud have been added;

five cases of illegal legal practice have been recorded.

The charges were officially served via a court summons.

Previous violations and disciplinary history

As it turned out, Schlendorf had problems with professional ethics before. Back in 2018, he received a disciplinary warning for violating the rules for concluding contracts in family law cases.

Ultimately, in 2022, he was completely disbarred.

A showpiece for the entire system

This case demonstrates the seriousness of control over the legal profession in the United States and the tough response to attempts to circumvent restrictions.

Providing legal assistance without the appropriate status is not just a professional misconduct, but a criminal offense, especially when it comes to misleading clients and obtaining funds.

The case is already being called a showpiece — both for the legal community and for clients, who should carefully check the credentials of their representatives.