A legal masquerade has ended somewhat quietly in Hays County as Nichole Humes, the woman who faked her status as a licensed attorney, struck a plea deal on charges that could have landed her in prison for up to a decade. Instead, she will serve five years of probation as part of the agreement reached with prosecutors, according to information from KVUE. Humes admitted on Sept. 24 to providing legal advice, negotiating, and unknowingly filing legal documents pretending she was a lead counsel, all without a law license.
The deceit surfaces following a KVUE Defenders investigation which looked into complaints from an attorney who learned his client had previously engaged Humes' services. An affidavit revealed that the State Bar of Texas did not recognize Humes as a licensed attorney, and she had not been listed as such since the suspension of her Pennsylvania law license in 2022. Furthermore, Humes last held a license in Illinois in 2013, waylaying any immediate legitimacy to her legal prowlings in the state of Texas.
The repercussions extended to Dorothy Lawrence, who supervised Humes at the Dorothy Butler Law Firm in Dripping Springs for four years. Lawrence has been disciplined by the State Bar, facing multiple grievances from former clients and fellow attorneys for misconduct and for enabling Humes' deceitful practice. In terms of retribution, Lawrence will weather a two-year probated suspension and, following a subsequent hearing, a public reprimand as described in a KXAN report.
Amidst the unfolding of these events, Lawrence maintains that Humes worked only as a paralegal and was awaiting reciprocity for her license in Texas. "Nichole actually graduated from law school. She practiced law in both Pennsylvania and Illinois prior to working with my firm," Lawrence told KXAN. Despite Lawrence's defense, the firm terminated Humes' employment at the end of the last year after allegations arose. Lawrence further aims to separate herself from her former employee's actions, stating, "There is a lot of information contained in that affidavit that is not factually correct. I have a sworn declaration from Nichole where she states any wrongdoing, I had zero knowledge of it at any time."
As part of the plea, in addition to probation, Humes is to pay a $1,500 fine and complete 250 hours of community service. She must also undergo a psychological/drug/alcohol abuse evaluation before the deal is sanctioned by a judge. Meanwhile, for Humes and Lawrence alike, further reputation and legal outcomes rest on the pending November 18 punishment hearing.
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