Man posed as lawyer for two years

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A New York judge has sentenced a man who worked as a lawyer for two years, despite never earning a degree, to five years of probation.

Brian Valery must also return the $225,000 he earned from insurance-litigation firm Anderson Kill & Olick and serve 100 hours community service, the New York Post reported Thursday.

Valery, who never even earned an undergraduate degree, formerly worked as a paralegal at the firm and falsely told bosses he was attending Fordham Law School. In 2003, he claimed to have passed the bar exam and was later promoted to staff attorney.

Valery worked as much as 70 hours a week and won some 50 cases.

"I guess he got away with it so long because he was so talented, and so hardworking," said Valery's lawyer, Bob LaRusso.