In Re Ponder

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) and respondent have entered into an Agreement for Discipline by Consent pursuant to Rule 21, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, in which respondent admits misconduct and agrees to either an admonition or a public reprimand. We accept the agreement and issue a public reprimand. The facts, as set forth in the agreement, are as follows.

FACTS

Respondent, a sole practitioner, employed Jean Knowles as a non-lawyer legal assistant from October 2002 through January 2006. Knowles assisted respondent with the preparation and closing of real estate transactions.

In 2003-2004,…