PUTNAM COUNTY WOMAN WHO HAD REPRESENTED NUMEROUS CLIENTS IN COURT IN BRONX CASES, HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF PRACTICING LAW WITHOUT A LICENSE

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announce today that a woman who had been employed as an attorney by Bronx Defenders, has been convicted of practicing law without a license.

Diane Shamis, of East Carmel, New York, pled guilty to one count of Practicing or Appearing as Attorney-at-law without being admitted. Shamis, 46, pled guilty to the single misdemeanor count before Criminal Court Judge Fernando Tapia and was sentenced to a Conditional Discharge. The judge also imposed a fine of $500.

Shamis was a law school graduate and had passed the New York State Bar Examination in July 1996. However, she was never certified for admission to practice law in New York State. Shamis was not approved for admission to the Bar, because she never submitted the required paper work to the Bar Association’s Character and Fitness Committee.

The defendant worked for The Bronx Defenders, representing clients in court, until it was discovered that she was not licensed to practice law.

Assistant District Attorney Stuart Levy prosecuted the case.