Labor Licensing and Regulation
Practice Areas
South Carolina LLR Defense Attorney
The regulations governing professions in South Carolina are complicated, and the outcome of a disciplinary hearing or LLR inquiry can have serious long-term consequences. That is why when met with a complaint or inquiry, the worst thing you can do is disregard it. Even if you know the allegation has no validity, it is important to obtain the services of a competent professional license defense attorney who can help protect what all is at risk.
If you are the subject of a professional misconduct inquiry, you deserve a lawyer who has extensive knowledge regarding the laws surrounding South Carolina labor licensing and regulation and will fight to protect your livelihood and your professional future. Simply put, you deserve a professional license defense lawyer like AnneMarie Odom.
At AnneMarie Odom Law, we work tirelessly to protect the rights of licensed professionals in Greenville and the surrounding areas. Reach out to our professional license defense attorneys today by calling 864-775-5833 and see how we can help you.
South Carolina Licensing Board
The state of South Carolina regulates over forty professions under what is known as the South Carolina Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, or “LLR” for short. This department oversees the training, education, enforcement, regulation, and licensing of most licensed professionals in the state, including but not limited to:
- Healthcare professionals
- Engineers
- Real estate agents
- Psychologists
- Professional counselors
- Barbers/cosmetologists
- Veterinarians
- Speech therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Massage therapists
- Pharmacists
- Contractors
- Dentists
- Accountants
- Social workers
LLR regulatory boards have broad jurisdiction and can have a severe influence on your career. It only takes one complaint to trigger an inquiry, potentially jeopardizing both your personal and professional reputation, future, and general well-being.
What Triggers an LLR Investigation?
From healthcare professionals to real estate agents to professional engineers, certain behaviors almost always result in discipline and practice restrictions. For example, a large proportion of professionals, especially those in the healthcare industry, suffer from drug and alcohol addictions. It is customary for disciplinary councils or licensing boards to intervene when these issues become apparent and have an influence over a person’s professional career.
Other violations that may trigger an LLR disciplinary board investigation and further disciplinary action include malpractice, inaccuracies in paperwork, problems regarding the disclosure of essential information, conflicts of interest, incompetence, and a number of other concerns. They can also result from more serious claims, such as criminal charges involving fraud, theft, and violence.
Anyone can file a complaint and launch an investigation into an ethical or procedural violation. This includes coworkers, clients, employers, employees, patients, and more. Once a complaint is lodged, the licensing board will work to either prove or discredit a claim and decide whether further disciplinary action is required.
What Happens When You Lose Your Professional License
In some cases, the state board may determine that your behavior necessitates the loss of your professional license. This may be a temporary suspension or a complete revocation that terminates your ability to continue practicing your profession. In other cases, if a professional license was not yet obtained or requires renewal, the state has the authority to deny the acquisition of the license outright. Professionals who do not have the appropriate licensure are not allowed to legally practice in South Carolina. In addition to revocation or suspension, those who are found to be practicing without a valid license may be met with steep fines or even criminal prosecution.
What Does a Professional License Defense Attorney Do?
Because governmental bodies manage and monitor professional licenses, a professional license defense attorney is largely an administrative law attorney who specializes in professional and occupational licensing concerns. This can entail a lot of things, but the primary responsibilities of a professional license defense attorney are to safeguard an individual’s occupational license and right to work, manage their case efficiently, and remove any uncertainty you may have during the disciplinary procedure.
So, while regulatory LLR boards supervise license approvals and disciplinary procedures taken against licensees, a professional license defense attorney represents licensees in such cases. More specifically, professional license defense attorneys focus on the following legal matters:
- Defense – defending professionals whose licenses are at risk following accusations of unethical behavior, professional misconduct, or those who have been charged with a crime.
- Appeals – defending applicants of a professional license when their application has been denied.
- Reinstatement – representing former licensed professionals whose license has been suspended or revoked and who would like to re-enter their profession.
Overall, your professional license defense lawyer will work to secure you better conditions for your case and shorter probationary periods, if applicable. They will also prepare you for any LLR board appearances and administrative hearings by rehearsing with you on what to say (and what NOT to say). This type of legal counsel is priceless, and it ensures that you get the best possible result in your case.
When Should I Hire a License Defense Attorney?
When it comes to your professional license in South Carolina, you must be extremely mindful of any potential procedural or ethical violations imposed upon you. Far too many professionals either fail to take their complaints seriously or simply wait until it is too late to attempt to save their careers.
If you find yourself under investigation for professional misconduct and find your professional license at stake, one of the most important decisions you can make is to obtain legal representation by hiring an experienced attorney in South Carolina… and FAST.
If you are being investigated by a South Carolina LLR disciplinary board, call AnneMarie Odom Law as soon as possible to schedule a private consultation. Once the attorney-client relationship has been established, AnneMarie Odom will immediately provide professional license defense by offering legal advice, assisting you throughout the legal process, and protecting your rights along the way.
Professional License Defense Attorney in South Carolina
At AnneMarie Odom Law, our professional license defense lawyers will do everything we can to help you handle your labor licensing & regulation matters in the most efficient way possible. Even if you believe your accusations are minor or completely false, the repercussions that come from board disciplinary actions can have long-term ramifications.
If you are a licensed professional in South Carolina and are facing an LLR inquiry, don’t try to fight these government agencies on your own. Instead, be sure to equip the help of a Greenville criminal defense lawyer with experience handling labor licensing and regulation matters at AnneMarie Odom Law. Call (864) 775-5833 or complete our online intake form found below to get in touch today.
Don’t lose everything you have worked for. Allow our Greenville criminal defense attorneys to assist in your LLR investigation and ensure that your professional license remains protected.
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