Sandoval’s general counsel still needs to pass Nevada Bar

Gov. Brian Sandoval's general counsel is not licensed to practice law in Nevada, according to the ABA Journal, citing this from Corporate Counsel.

Lucas Foletta, who clerked for Sandoval when the governor was a federal judge, was licensed in California in 2008. A Sandoval staffer said he intends to sit for the Nevada Bar this year, but the timing might make it difficult. The Nevada Bar is a grueling days-long event held in February and July.

With what will undoubtedly be one of the more contentious legislative sessions in state history -- a potential $3 billion budget shortfall will do that -- Foletta might not have time to study for the state bar exam, generally considered one of the more difficult ones in the nation.

However, as Corporate Counsel points out, Nevada Supreme Court rules allow unlicensed lawyers to practice law on a limited basis -- such as in a government position.

And while Foletta's situation is more a housekeeping issue than anything, there are other unlicensed attorneys out there, including an ex-con who never spent an hour in law school yet managed to "practice law" for five years in Illinois.

According to this story from the ABA Journal, the man "honed" his legal skills by watching legal dramas on TV.

So, you watch "Law & Order," "The Defenders," and old Perry Mason reruns and you get a legal education. That's one way to escape the crush of student loan debt most attorneys carry.