In re Braun

Nancy Braun (plaintiff), an attorney admitted in New York and D.C., applied for admission to the North Carolina Bar by comity, which required proof of active and substantial law practice in at least four of the preceding six years. During that period she instead owned and ran a café and catering business, claiming she performed law-related tasks for the business — a loan, landlord disputes, contract negotiation, and occasional legal help for employees and vendors — without maintaining a separate law office, billing records, advertising, or continuing legal education. The Board found she lacked candor and gave misleading answers when trying to characterize this work as active law practice, and the Superior Court affirmed the Board's denial.