42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 25

in effect

42 Pa.C.S. § 25 Confinement of children in jails.

Until December 31, 1979, a jail may be used for the detention of a child who is alleged to be delinquent but only if the detention is necessary for the safety of the public and if the jail has been approved for the detention of the child by the Department of Public Welfare in good faith and the detention has been ordered by the court pursuant to Chapter 63 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (relating to juvenile matters). The Department of Public Welfare shall approve for use for purposes of and in accordance with the provisions of this section any jail which it finds maintains, for the detention of the child, an appropriate room under adequate supervision: Provided, That the Department of Public Welfare shall have, no later than October 2, 1977, by regulation promulgated standards governing the operations of such portions of such jails as are used for the detention of children pursuant to this section and shall cause the jails to be inspected by the Department of Public Welfare at least once every six months until this confinement is terminated in accordance with provisions in this act. References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2501 Appearance in person or by counsel.

(a) Civil matters.--In all civil matters before any tribunal every litigant shall have a right to be heard, by himself and his counsel, or by either of them. (b) Criminal matters.--In all criminal prosecutions the accused has a right to be heard by himself and his counsel.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2502 Certain persons not to appear as counsel.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise prescribed by general rule, an attorney at law who is an employee of a court shall not appear as counsel in such court. An attorney at law shall not appear in any court or in any matter in violation of any general rule relating to the practice of law or the conduct of courts, magisterial district judges and officers serving process or enforcing orders of courts. (b) Law clerks.--Except as otherwise prescribed by general rules, a law clerk serving on the personal staff of a judge of a court of common pleas may appear in such court as an attorney at law before other judges of such court notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a). (Apr. 6, 1980, P.L.100, No.38, eff. imd.; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (a). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2503 Right of participants to receive counsel fees.

The following participants shall be entitled to a reasonable counsel fee as part of the taxable costs of the matter: (1) The holder of bonds of a private corporation who successfully recovers due and unpaid interest, the liability for the payment of which was denied by the corporation. (2) A garnishee who enters an appearance in a matter which is discontinued prior to answer filed. (3) A garnishee who is found to have in his possession or control no indebtedness due to or other property of the debtor except such, if any, as has been admitted by answer filed. (4) A possessor of property claimed by two or more other persons, if the possessor interpleads the rival claimants, disclaims all interest in the property and disposes of the property as the court may direct. (5) The prevailing party in an interpleader proceeding in connection with execution upon a judgment. (6) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees as a sanction against another participant for violation of any general rule which expressly prescribes the award of counsel fees as a sanction for dilatory, obdurate or vexatious conduct during the pendency of any matter. (7) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees as a sanction against another participant for dilatory, obdurate or vexatious conduct during the pendency of a matter. (8) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees out of a fund within the jurisdiction of the court pursuant to any general rule relating to an award of counsel fees from a fund within the jurisdiction of the court. (9) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees because the conduct of another party in commencing the matter or otherwise was arbitrary, vexatious or in bad faith. (10) Any other participant in such circumstances as may be specified by statute heretofore or hereafter enacted. Saved from Suspension. Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 3159(b)(6), adopted April 20, 1998, provided that section 2503(2) and (3) shall not be deemed suspended or affected by Rules 3101 through 3149 relating to enforcement of money judgments for the payment of money. Cross References. Section 2503 is referred to in section 1726 of this title; sections 1508, 1512, 1554, 5508, 5512 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations).

42 Pa.C.S. § 2504 Letters of attorney.

(a) General rule.--All letters of attorney authorizing acts relating to instruments or judgments may, if duly acknowledged, be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of any county. Such filing shall be deemed a recording for the purposes of section 6106 (relating to certified exemplifications of records). (b) Duration.--A letter of attorney shall remain in effect until a written revocation by the grantor thereof is filed in such office, but this subsection shall not prevent the prior termination by operation of law of the agency evidenced thereby. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days) 1978 Amendment. Act 53 added section 2504.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2521 Office of attorney at law.

Persons admitted to the bar of the courts of this Commonwealth and to practice law pursuant to general rules shall thereby hold the office of attorney at law.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2522 Oath of office.

Before entering upon the duties of his office, each attorney at law shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity, as well to the court as to the client, that I will use no falsehood, nor delay the cause of any person for lucre or malice." Any person refusing to take the oath or affirmation shall forfeit his office.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2523 Persons specially admitted by local rules.

Any person specially admitted to practice law on or before April 23, 1968 may continue to practice in the court of common pleas or in that division of the court of common pleas and the Philadelphia Municipal Court which substantially includes the practice for which such person was previously specially admitted.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2524 Penalty for unauthorized practice of law.

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), any person, including, but not limited to, a paralegal or legal assistant, who within this Commonwealth shall practice law, or who shall hold himself out to the public as being entitled to practice law, or use or advertise the title of lawyer, attorney at law, attorney and counselor at law, counselor, or the equivalent in any language, in such a manner as to convey the impression that he is a practitioner of the law of any jurisdiction, without being an attorney at law or a corporation complying with 15 Pa.C.S. Ch. 29 (relating to professional corporations), commits a misdemeanor of the third degree upon a first violation. A second or subsequent violation of this subsection constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree. (b) Practice by associations.-- (1) An association does not violate subsection (a) if it provides legal services only through officers, employees or agents who are duly admitted to practice law. The association may employ persons not admitted to practice law, but those persons shall not render any legal services rendered or to be rendered by the association. (2) This subsection shall not be interpreted to preclude the use of clerks, secretaries, administrators, bookkeepers, technicians and other assistants who are not usually and ordinarily considered by law, custom and practice to be rendering legal services nor to preclude the use of any other person who performs all his employment under the direct supervision and control of a person duly admitted to practice law. A person shall not, under the guise of employment, render legal services unless duly admitted to practice law. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an association may charge for the legal services of its officers, employees and agents, may collect those charges and may compensate those who render the professional services. (c) Injunction.--In addition to criminal prosecution, unauthorized practice of law may be enjoined in any county court of common pleas having personal jurisdiction over the defendant. The party obtaining such an injunction may be awarded costs and expenses incurred, including reasonable attorney fees, against the enjoined party. A violation of subsection (a) is also a violation of the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. (Dec. 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.703, No.106, eff. 60 days; July 11, 1996, P.L.607, No.104, eff. 60 days) 1996 Amendment. Act 104 amended subsec. (a) and added subsec. (c).

42 Pa.C.S. § 2525 Unauthorized solicitation prohibited.

(a) Offense defined.--Any person not an attorney at law who shall solicit or procure through solicitation a retainer, power of attorney or any agreement, written or oral, authorizing an attorney at law to perform or render legal services, or who shall solicit any person in this Commonwealth to institute any action or proceeding for damages in which the compensation of any attorney at law for instituting or prosecuting such suit, shall directly or indirectly, depend upon the amount of the recovery therein, commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not prohibit any bona fide labor organization from giving legal advice to its members in matters arising out of their employment or prohibit any person from engaging in any associational activity which is protected under the Constitution of the United States.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=42Fetched: 10/16/2026