Woman charged with unlicensed practice of law
Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office arrested a woman who operated a law office in Matawan but is not licensed to practice law in the state, the Prosecutor's Office reported.

On June 25, Laurie Rieger, 45, of Chester, was arrested by with the assistance of the Chester Township Police Department and charged with one count of fourth-degree unlicensed practice of law and one count of third-degree theft by deception. The arrest follows an investigation conducted by the Prosecutor's Office following a referral from the Monmouth Bar Association.

According to a press release from the Prosecutor's Office, the investigation revealed that from the spring through the fall of 2005, Rieger allegedly solicited and obtained retainer fees, legal fees, made court appearances, and held herself out to potential clients as a licensed attorney in the state of New Jersey.

The Prosecutor's Office said these actions were conducted through PSL Consultation Group, LLC, an entity Rieger allegedly created in order to facilitate her actions.

The investigation revealed that Rieger focused primarily on family law cases and revealed that in addition to identifying herself as an attorney in private meetings and in documents, Rieger appeared at least once in a municipal court in Monmouth County and at least once in a child support hearing in N.J. Superior Court in Freehold. In both instances, the press release states, Rieger represented herself to be an attorney.

Unlicensed practice of law is a fourthdegree crime. If convicted, Rieger faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to 18 months. Theft by deception is a third-degree crime. If convicted, Rieger faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to a five-year state prison term.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin stated, "The manner in which Rieger misrepresented her professional status to her clients and to the court threatened the credibility of the judicial process."

Following the arrest, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully set Rieger's bail at $10,000.

Despite this charge, the Prosecutor's Office pointed out, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.