Microsoft Word - Sams 3196-2 rel.docx (2023)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: STEVEN EDWARD SAMS, BPR #022560
CONTACT: ANDREW B. CAMPBELL
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
June 22, 2023
KNOX COUNTY LAWYER DISBARRED
Effective June 22, 2023, the Supreme Court of Tennessee permanently disbarred Steven Edward Sams
from the practice of law. Mr. Sams shall pay all costs incurred to the Board of Professional Responsibility.
After a hearing upon the disciplinary petition consisting of five (5) separate disciplinary complaints, the
Hearing Panel determined by a preponderance of the evidence that Mr. Samsâwho had been disbarred on
November 26, 2014, and again on August 5, 2016âengaged in the unauthorized practice of law by providing
services requiring the professional judgment of a lawyer to five separate clients. Mr. Sams provided these
services, which he advertised as âimmigration consultingâ services (including âform selectionâ and âstrategyâ),
through S2 Consulting, LLCâa limited liability company created by Mr. Sams. The Hearing Panel further
found that Mr. Sams failed to notify his clients of his disbarment status; misrepresented himself as a licensed
attorney when, in fact, he was not; prepared âghostwrittenâ immigration forms (which, in some instances,
contained material factual inaccuracies) for signature by other licensed attorneys; misrepresented the status of
certain immigration cases; failed to notify clients of deadlines for certain submissions; violated provisions of the
Code of Federal Regulations; and knowingly disobeyed obligations to the Federal Immigration Court and the
Tennessee Supreme Court. In certain instances, Mr. Samsâ conduct resulted in irreparable injury.
The Panel found Mr. Samsâ conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 3.4 (knowingly
disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal), 5.5 (unauthorized practice of law), and 8.4 (misconduct)
and warranted permanent disbarment.
Sams 3196-2 rel.doc