,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cbac  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #f1 #bjbe,mr4    
,fitzg]ald introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 
0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y1
 & 9 addition to ! ,committee on        
,f9ancial ,s]vices1 = a p]iod to be     
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to protect ,/ate & 
,f$]al c\rts' prim>y & inh]5t au?ority  
to regulate & ov]see ! legal pr(ession  
by prohibit+ ,f$]al ag5cies f regulat+  
lic5s$ attorneys & law firms engag$ 9   
litigation activities1 prohibit+ oppos+ 
p>ties 9 legal actions f br++ private   
rights ( action aga9/ su* attorneys &   
law firms = _! litigation activities1 & 
= o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,re/or+ ,c\rt      
,au?ority ,ov] ,litigation ,act ( #bjbe4
  #b4 ,f9d+s2 ,s5se ( ,congress  7a7 ,9 
g5]al ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,= 
_m decades1 attorneys engag$ 9 !        

practice ( law h be5 regulat$ &         
discipl9$ prim>ily by ! highe/ c\rt ( ! 
,/ate 9 :i* ! attorney is lic5s$ or     
admitt$ to practice1 attorney discipl9>y
 ag5cies ov]se5 by ^? c\rts1 & o!r ,/ate
 & ,f$]al c\rts ( compet5t jurisdiction 
pursuant to ! applicable /atutes1 rules 
( civil proc$ure1 & rules ( pr(essional 
conduct & discipl9>y proc$ure duly      
adopt$ 9 ^? jurisdictions1 & n by       
,congress1 ,f$]al ag5cies1 or private   
litigants4  7#b7 ,/ate supreme c\rts h  
promulgat$ & en=c$ ext5sive & effective 
regulations gov]n+ all aspects ( !      
practice ( law1 includ+ admission       
requirem5ts1 /rict attorney rules (     
pr(essional conduct1 discipl9>y rules1 &
 litigation proc$ural rules4 ,9         
addition1 ,f$]al c\rts h adopt$ local   
rules gov]n+ ! conduct ( attorneys      
appe>+ be=e !m4 ,z a result1 ,/ate &    
,f$]al c\rts h ext5sive au?ority & tools
 to address attorney misconduct t occurs
 dur+ ! c\rse ( litigation be=e !m1     
includ+ monet>y sanctions1 /rik+ (f5d+  

plead+s or o!r pap]s1 or ref]r+ ! matt] 
to discipl9>y au?orities1 :i* c\ld lead 
to a reprim&1 c5sure1 lic5se susp5sion1 
disb>m5t1 or o!r available discipl9>y   
sanctions4  7#c7 ,consi/5t ) ! long/&+  
pr9ciple ( judicial regulation &        
ov]sight ( attorneys & ! legal          
pr(ession1 num]\s ,f$]al ag5cies h      
includ$ broad practice ( law exclusions 
9 major rules1 includ+ ! ,f$]al ,trade  
,commission's ,mortgage ,assi/ance      
,relief ,s]vices ,rule issu$ 9 ,novemb] 
#bjaj & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,h\s+ & ,urban    
,developm5t's ,secure & ,fair ,en=cem5t 
= ,mortgage ,lic5s+ ,act ,rule issu$ 9  
,june #bjaa4  7#d7 ,also consi/5t ) !   
pr9ciple ( judicial regulation (        
attorneys & ! legal pr(ession1 ,congress
 has g5]ally decl9$ to enact legislation
 regulat+ ! practice ( law1 includ+     
litigation activities ( attorneys4  7#e7
 ,congress has also incorporat$ broad   
practice ( law exclusions into c]ta9    
,f$]al /atutes4 ,= example1 section     
#ajbg7;e7 ( ! ,consum] ,f9ancial        

,protection ,act ( #bjaj excludes mo/   
attorneys engag$ 9 ! practice ( law f ! 
,consum] ,f9ancial ,protection ,bureau's
 regulatory & en=cem5t au?ority1 :ile ! 
,fair ,debt ,collection ,practices ,act 
( #aigg orig9ally conta9$ a complete    
exemption = attorneys engag$ 9 !        
practice ( law4  7#f7 ,al?\gh ,congress 
remov$ ! complete attorney exemption f !
 ,fair ,debt ,collection ,practices ,act
 9 #aihf bas$ 9 "p on its belief t !    
revis$ ,act w\ld only apply to          
attorneys' non-litigation collection    
activities & t ,/ate c\rts w\ld cont9ue 
to regulate attorneys' litigation       
activities1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,supreme    
,c\rt held 9 ,he9tz v4 ,j5k9s1 #ead     
,u4,s4 #bia 7#aiie71 t attorneys c\ld be
 subject to ! ,act ev5 :5 !y are engag$ 
9 litigation activities4 ,z a result1 _m
 attorneys n[ are r\t9ely su$ =         
litigation activities 9 ,/ate c\rt t are
 alleg$ to be te*nical violations ( !   
,act1 ev5 :5 consum]s suff] no h>m4     
7#g7 ,9 ea* ( its annual reports to     

,congress on ! ,fair ,debt ,collection  
,practices ,act f #aiih ?r\gh #bjjf1 !  
,f$]al ,trade ,commission =mally        
recomm5d$ t ,congress reexam9e & am5d ! 
def9ition ( debt collector 9 ! ,act to  
exempt attorneys :o pursue debtors      
solely ?r\gh litigation 7or simil> legal
 practices74  7#h7 ,9 rec5t ye>s1 !     
,consum] ,f9ancial ,protection ,bureau  
has also aggressively s\ght to regulate 
attorneys' collection activities1       
includ+ _! litigation activities1       
despite ! broad practice ( law exclusion
 9 section #ajbg7;e7 ( ! ,consum]       
,f9ancial ,protection ,act4 ,! ,bureau's
 aggressive actions c\ld also lead to   
o!r ,f$]al ag5cies adopt+ rules or      
practices regulat+ attorneys' litigation
 activities 9 o!r types ( c\rt cases4   
7#i7 ,^! developm5ts h und]m9$ ,/ate &  
,f$]al c\rts' prim>y & inh]5t au?ority  
to regulate & ov]see attorneys engag$ 9 
! practice ( law by creat+ multiple     
conflict+ sets ( rules & /&>ds =        
attorneys1 result+ 9 unfair lawsuits    

aga9/ attorneys pursu+ valid legal      
claims = cli5ts 9 c\rt1 increas$        
attorney malpractice insurance rates1   
difficulty 9 obta9+ legal repres5tation1
 & r$uc$ access to ju/ice4  7#aj7 ,on   
,janu>y #bf1 #bjaa1 ! ,conf]5ce ( ,*ief 
,ju/ices adopt$ ,resolution #a 7,9      
,support ( ,pres]v+ ,traditional ,/ate  
,c\rt ,regulation ( ,lawy]s & ,oppos+   
,exp&$ ,f$]al ,ag5cy ,regulation (      
,lawy]s & ! ,practice ( ,law71 affirm+ t
 prim>y regulation & ov]sight (         
attorneys & ! legal pr(ession %\ld      
cont9ue to be ve/$ 9 ! ,/ate c\rts1 n   
,f$]al ag5cies or ,congress1 & t ! c\rts
 are 9 ! be/ position to fulfill t      
important function4 ,! ,resolution also 
express$ support = ,congress & ,f$]al   
ag5cies' decisions to include broad     
practice ( law exclusions 9 c]ta9 ,f$]al
 /atutes & ag5cy rules1 & opposition to 
,f$]al legislation or rules int5d$ to   
e/abli% or exp& ! ,f$]al regulatory     
jurisdiction ( attorneys engag$ 9 !     
practice ( law4  7#aa7 ,:ile !          

activities con/itut+ ! practice ( law   
are det]m9$ by ! ,/ate 9 :i* an attorney
 is lic5s$ or admitt$ to practice1      
litigation activities 9 connection ) a  
legal action 9 ,/ate or ,f$]al c\rt are 
consid]$ to be "p ( ! practice ( law 9 e
 ,/ate4  7#ab7 ,to protect & re/ore     
,/ate & ,f$]al c\rts' prim>y & inh]5t   
au?ority to regulate & ov]see attorneys 
& ! legal pr(ession1 ,f$]al legislation 
is ne$$ to cl>ify t-- 7,a7 attorneys    
engag$ 9 litigation %\ld be regulat$ &  
discipl9$ exclusively by ,/ate supreme  
c\rts1 _! attorney discipl9>y ag5cies1 &
 o!r ,/ate & ,f$]al c\rts ( compet5t    
jurisdiction2  7,b7 ,f$]al ag5cies %all 
h no regulatory au?ority ov] litigation 
activities ( attorneys2 &  7,c7 no p>ty 
9 a legal action %all h a ,f$]al private
 "r ( action aga9/ ! oppos+ attorney = !
 attorney's litigation activities4      
7#ac7 ,on ,febru>y #e1 #bjbj1 !         
,conf]5ce ( ,*ief ,ju/ices also adopt$ a
 second ,resolution #a1 entitl$ ,9      
,support ( ,pres]v+ ! ,c\rts' ,au?ority 

to ,regulate & ,ov]see ,lawy]s ,engag$ 9
 ,litigation & ,oppos+ ,f$]al ,ag5cy    
,regulation ( ,lawy]s' ,litigation      
,activities1 :i* express$ support =     
,f$]al legislation t w\ld implem5t !    
?ree propos$ re=ms describ$ 9 p>agraph  
7#ab74  7#ad7 ,on ,april #ab1 #bjbc1 !  
,consum] ,f9ancial ,protection ,bureau  
publi%$ its ,/atem5t ( ,policy ,reg>d+  
,prohibition on ,abusive ,acts or       
,practices t expla9s its int]pretation (
 ^? prohibitions conta9$ 9 ! ,consum]   
,f9ancial ,protection ,act ( #bjaj & !  
actions t provid]s ( consum] f9ancial   
products or s]vices1 includ+ attorneys  
engag$ 9 debt collection1 mu/ take or   
avoid 9 ord] to comply ) ! ,act4 ,h[ev]1
 by requir+ attorneys repres5t+ cr$itors
 9 debt collection litigation to act 9 !
 int]e/s ( consum]s in/ead ( ! int]e/s (
 _! own cli5ts1 & by requir+ attorneys  
to take o!r /eps inconsi/5t ) _! e?ical 
duties1 ! ,consum] ,f9ancial ,protection
 ,bureau ,/atem5t ( ,policy directly    
conflicts ) ! c\rts' well-e/abli%$      

attorney rules ( pr(essional conduct1   
attorney discipl9>y rules1 & litigation 
proc$ural rules1 ?us fur!r und]m9+ !    
c\rts' prim>y & inh]5t au?ority to      
regulate & ov]see attorneys engag$ 9 !  
practice ( law4  7b7  ,s5se ( ,congress 
,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t attorneys    
engag$ 9 litigation activities %\ld be  
regulat$ & discipl9$ exclusively by !   
c\rts & o!r au?orities ( ! ,/ate 9 :i* !
 attorney is lic5s$ or admitt$ to       
practice1 attorney discipl9>y ag5cies   
ov]se5 by ^? c\rts1 & o!r ,/ate & ,f$]al
 c\rts ( compet5t jurisdiction pursuant 
to ! applicable /atutes1 rules ( civil  
proc$ure1 & rules ( pr(essional conduct 
& discipl9>y proc$ure duly adopt$ 9 ^?  
jurisdictions4  #c4 ,c\rt au?ority ov]  
attorneys engag$ 9 litigation activities
  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ii ( title #bh1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
aft] section #afca ! foll[+3  #afcb4    
,pres]vation ( ,/ate & ,f$]al c\rts'    
prim>y & inh]5t au?ority to regulate &  
ov]see attorneys engag$ 9 litigation    

activities  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is      
section3  7#a7 ,f$]al ag5cy ,! t]m      
,f$]al ag5cy means an ag5cy z def9$ 9   
section #eea7a7 ( title #e4  7#b7       
,litigation activities ,! t]m litigation
 activities means any actions by a      
lic5s$ attorney or a law firm 9         
connection ) a legal action 9 a c\rt (  
law on behalf ( a cli5t1 includ+--  7,a7
 s]v+1 fil+1 or convey+ =mal legal      
plead+s1 discov]y reque/s1 or o!r       
docum5ts pursuant to ! applicable /atute
 or rules ( civil proc$ure2  7,b7       
communicat+ 91 or at ! direction (1 a   
c\rt ( law 7includ+ 9 depositions or    
settlem5t conf]5ces7 or 9 ! en=cem5t ( a
 judgm5t2 &  7,c7 any o!r activities    
engag$ 9 z "p ( ! practice ( law1 "u !  
laws ( a ,/ate 9 :i* ! attorney is      
lic5s$ or admitt$ to practice1 t relate 
to ! legal action4  7#c7 ,/ate ,! t]m   
,/ate means ! #ej ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict (  
,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to      
,rico1 ! ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn       
,m>iana ,isl&s1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 ,guam1 

& ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s4  7b7   
,limitation on ,f$]al ag5cy au?ority    
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 a     
,f$]al ag5cy does n h any sup]visory1   
en=cem5t1 or regulatory au?ority ov]    
litigation activities ( attorneys or law
 firms4  7c7 ,no private "r ( action    
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 a     
p]son may n br+ a civil action 9 a c\rt 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates seek+ relief = h>m    
aris+ out ( alleg$ misconduct relat$ to 
! litigation activities ( an oppos+     
attorney or law firm4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical  
am5dm5t ,! table ( sections = *apt] #ii 
( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is    
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat$ to   
section #afca ! foll[+3  #afcb4         
,pres]vation ( ,/ate & ,f$]al c\rts'    
prim>y & inh]5t au?ority to regulate &  
ov]see attorneys engag$ 9 litigation    
activities4  4  #d4 ,con=m+ am5dm5ts    
7a7 ,fair ,debt ,collection ,practices  
,act ,section #hjc7f7 ( ! ,fair ,debt   
,collection ,practices ,act 7#ae        
,u4,s4,c4 #afib;a7#f77 is am5d$--  7#a7 

by r$esignat+ subp>agraph 7,f7 z        
subp>agraph 7,g72 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft]
 subp>agraph 7,e7 ! foll[+3  7,f7 any   
lic5s$ attorney or any law firm1 to !   
ext5t t su* attorney or firm is engag$ 9
 litigation activities 7z su* t]m is    
def9$ 9 section #afcb ( title #bh1      
,unit$ ,/ates ,code7 to collect a debt  
on behalf ( a cli5t2 &  4  7b7 ,consum] 
,f9ancial ,protection ,act ( #bjaj      
,section #ajbg7;e7 ( ! ,consum]         
,f9ancial ,protection ,act ( #bjaj 7#ab 
,u4,s4,c4 #eeag7;e77 is am5d$--  7#a7 by
 r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#c7 z p>agraph    
7#d72 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph   
7#b7 ! foll[+3  7#c7 ,rule ( con/ruction
 limitation ) respect to debt collection
 ,p>agraph 7#b7 %all n apply to a lic5s$
 attorney engag+ 9 litigation activities
 to collect a debt on behalf ( a cli5t  
if ! attorney is exclud$ f ! t]m debt   
collector "u section #hjc ( ! ,fair     
,debt ,collection ,practices ,act by    
reason ( section #hjc7f77;,f7 ( su*     
,act4  4