Les Haynes allegedly provided unauthorized legal advice, document preparation services

EAGLE PASS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced a lawsuit against a Maverick County man for allegedly defrauding consumers by providing legal services and document preparation services without being licensed as an attorney.

The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction against Les Haynes, who has allegedly operated his unauthorized legal services business in Eagle Pass for at least five years.

“Families in need of legal guidance should be able to rely on competent professionals who are qualified and licensed to practice law,” said Attorney General Abbott. “I will not tolerate scam artists that attempt to take advantage of Texas consumers. My office will vigorously pursue anyone who ignores requirements set out under Texas law.”


Attorney General Abbott’s lawsuit against Haynes alleges that he charged consumers to prepare documents and provide legal advice, including determining their eligibility for work visas or permanent residency, despite not being licensed as an attorney. A large sign in front of Haynes’s business as well as advertisements in local phone books helped promote the services he offered and deceived consumers into believing that he was qualified to handle such matters.


One couple complained that after hiring Haynes to prepare several legal documents and paying him $100 in advance, they allegedly received only partially completed forms that contained numerous errors. When the couple informed Haynes that they would no longer use his services, Haynes allegedly trapped them in his office and threatened to destroy their original documents unless they paid him an additional $400. The complaint alleges that Haynes then accompanied them to their bank where they withdrew the money and paid him the additional fees, but he never completed the paperwork as promised.


Haynes is neither licensed as an attorney nor accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) as able to charge fees to advise and represent clients in immigration matters. His alleged activities violate several provisions of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and could result in fines of up to $20,000 per violation.


Consumers seeking licensed attorneys should contact the Texas State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Services hotline at (800) 252-9690.


Since assuming office, Attorney General Abbott has become a national leader in halting businesses that prey upon unsuspecting consumers. He has shut down almost 40 businesses that are not authorized to provide legal advice or document preparation services.


For additional information or to file a complaint against a suspected unauthorized legal services operation, consumers can contact the Office of the Attorney General at (800) 252-8011 or visit the Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.