In violation of a state licensing statute, Jones purports to be an attorney. After making that allegation, he contracts to perform legal service for Smith. Smith then pays Jones a $500 retainer. Later, after discovering that Jones is not licensed and therefore cannot get the job done, Smith sues Jones for the $500. What is the most likely result, and why?
Smith probably wins, because parties for whose protection a regulatory statute has been enacted often can recover amounts paid under a contract declared illegal by the statute.
