Years ago, I was sort of napping through an episode of LA Law where Harry Hamlin was in trial against a guy who turned out NOT to be a lawyer! Harry decides to continue with the trial as it would harm his client to have to stop and redo the trial. My mother asked me if this was okay.
NO! he has an ethical obligation to report it to the judge. Harry continued, won, and then the other (non) lawyer says to the judge “I’m not really a lawyer and Harry knew it.” Mistrial. Sanctions against Harry.
My mother asked “How did you know that?” Hmm, because I’m a lawyer and that’s the rule. And not a secret hidden rule, and not one you can justify if your client wants you to.
Sort of the whole premise of Suits but Meghan was so cute playing the law student who knew everything and the original guy who was pretending to be a lawyer. Or Mare Wittingham pretending to be a doctor on ER, and a dept head no less. Or finishing law/med school just a few years after hs. Even Doogie Howser had to finish hs and then college and then med school.