Attorney Regulation Warns About ‘World Law’

Attorneys should be aware of a debt settlement company using the name World Law that is prohibited by a recent court order from most operations in the state.

By STAFF

Winter 2015

The Colorado Supreme Court this month ordered a debt settlement company using the name World Law to cease certain operations in the state.

Hundreds of Colorado consumers paid sizeable amounts to entities using the trade names World Law Direct, World Law Debt, World Law Group and World Law Processing. Consumers believed the entities would provide legal representation while settling their debts at a discount. The entities advertised through websites such as www.worldlawdebtassistance.com and www.worldlawdirect.com.

On Feb. 2, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction ordering the World Law entities to stop their unauthorized practice of law. Despite claiming to be associated with a law firm, World Law entities have used unsupervised paralegals to provide legal services, including drafting pleadings for customers to file in defense of collections proceedings.

World Law continues to advertise and operate in Colorado despite a district court order earlier this year prohibiting the entities from their deceptive trade practices. In a lawsuit filed in Denver District Court, the Attorney General alleged that World Law entities had taken fees prior to settling consumers’ debts, in violation of Colorado’s Debt-Management Services Act. In addition, the Attorney General alleged that World Law entities falsely promised to provide customers with licensed Colorado attorneys but instead used non-lawyer employees to draft court pleadings in violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. In October, Denver District Court Judge Robert L. McGahey ordered World Law entities to stop advertising, enrolling customers, collecting fees, providing legal forms and interfering with customers’ accounts.

The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office urge World Law customers to read the Supreme Court’s order in case No. 14SA282 and the Denver District Court’s order in case No. 14CV31779 and consult a licensed Colorado attorney about their rights.

For additional information, consumers may call Attorney Regulation Counsel Jim Coyle at (303) 457-5800 or contact www.StopFraudColorado.gov.