Professional license defense

Board investigations move quickly once they begin. An investigator contacts the professional, requests documents and a response, and forms an initial recommendation, often before the professional fully understands what's happening or what's at stake. Professionals who respond to the initial board inquiry without counsel frequently provide statements and documents that become the foundation of the case against them.

Getting representation before responding to a board inquiry accomplishes several things: it controls what information goes to the investigator, it allows the attorney to frame the facts in context, and it preserves options that are lost once the investigation is underway. A board that receives a complete and well-organized professional response to a complaint is in a different position than one that receives a confused or incomplete one.

The goal in most cases is to resolve the matter before a formal disciplinary hearing. That outcome is more likely, and the terms of any resolution are usually better, when counsel is involved from the start.

Nevada's professional licensing boards receive notification when a licensed professional is charged with or convicted of certain crimes. The boards then conduct their own independent investigation without waiting for the criminal case to resolve. This means a DUI arrest, a domestic violence charge, a fraud allegation, or any crime involving moral turpitude can simultaneously trigger a criminal case and a board proceeding.

The defense has to be coordinated across both proceedings. What is said or produced in the board investigation can affect the criminal case, and how the criminal case is resolved affects the board outcome. A criminal conviction, even a plea to a lesser charge, can be independent grounds for board discipline. Both proceedings need one strategy.

Michael Mee handles both. If the criminal case is being managed with an eye toward the board consequences, and the board response is being crafted with an eye toward the criminal case, the outcomes across both proceedings tend to be better.

Michael Mee has represented professionals before the Nevada State Bar in attorney discipline investigations and proceedings, the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy in investigations and formal proceedings, and the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners in investigations into physician conduct. He also handles proceedings before other Nevada licensing boards.

Every board operates under its own statutory framework and administrative rules. The Nevada State Bar's rules look different from the Board of Pharmacy's rules, which look different from the Board of Nursing's. The procedural requirements, timelines, and standards for discipline vary. Knowing how a specific board actually operates, not just general administrative law, is what lets the defense position the case well.

If you're facing an investigation or have received a notice from any Nevada licensing board, call 702-990-0190 for a consultation. Michael will explain what the process looks like for your specific board and what needs to happen next.

Do not respond to the board's inquiry without speaking to an attorney first. The initial request for a response or documents is not a casual administrative formality. It is the first step of an investigation, and what you provide becomes part of the record. A response that seems helpful or cooperative can inadvertently confirm facts the board needs to proceed to formal discipline.

Do not speak to a board investigator without counsel present. Board investigators are not on your side. Their role is to gather facts that help the board determine whether to proceed with discipline. A voluntary interview without representation is an opportunity for the board, not for you.

Preserve all documentation relevant to the complaint: communications, records, files, and any materials that provide context for what the complaint is about. The earlier this is assembled, the more complete the defense response can be. Call 702-990-0190.

Once your criminal case resolves, you may be eligible to seal the record. The waiting period depends on the offense and runs from release from custody or discharge from parole or probation (NRS 179.245). If you were convicted and believe legal errors occurred at trial, an appeal may be an option.