The executive vice president of business and legal affairs at Al Jazeera America who serves as general counsel for the company has no record of having a license to practice law.
The New York Times reported:
According to court officials, there are no records that indicate Mr. Harleston is licensed to practice law in New York State, where Al Jazeera America has its headquarters. He has also not been admitted in any other jurisdiction, according to research by The New York Times. After an inquiry from the Times, Al Jazeera America said on Sunday that it had suspended Mr. Harleston and hired the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom to conduct an investigation.
Records do show that Harleston, who graduated from Yale Law School, passed the New York State bar exam in 1986. However, there is no record of him getting admitted to the bar, indicating that he either never finished his application or did not pass the review of "character and fitness."
It is unlawful in the majority of states for people who aren’t licensed lawyers to present themselves as lawyers or do legal work.
Harleston has presided over the company’s lawsuits against DirecTV and Al Gore over the last year and has also had to deal with a $15 million discrimination lawsuit brought by an ex-employee who accused a manager of sexism and making anti-Semitic comments. According to his bio on Al Jazeera America, Harleston also worked as counsel for Sony Music Entertainment.
"I take very seriously any potential issue that could jeopardize the reputation and integrity of Al Jazeera America," Al Jazeera America CEO Al Anstey said when announcing Harleston’s suspension.