17:16P-1. Borrower may choose own attorney; payment of fees regulated; secured loan

2. a. No banking institution, other financial institution or other lender, which is licensed or authorized under the laws of this State or of the United States to engage in the business of making loans secured by personal property, or which has an office in this State for that purpose, shall require a borrower to employ the services of the institution's or lender's counsel or an attorney specified by the institution or lender with respect to such a loan from the institution or lender to the borrower if some or all of the collateral is located in this State at the time of the loan.

b. If a loan is secured by personal property, the institution or lender and borrower may agree that the borrower shall reimburse the institution or lender or pay directly for all or any part of the fees and expenses incurred with respect to the loan transaction, including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of the institution's or lender's attorney.

c. If, pursuant to the provisions of this section, a borrower is required to reimburse or pay the fees and expenses for the institution's or lender's attorney for services performed in connection with a loan secured by personal property, all such fees and expenses shall be reasonable as defined by the Rules of Professional Conduct adopted by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

d. The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to permit any attorney's fee or charge or other charge or permit any action otherwise prohibited or limited by any other applicable law or regulation, including, but not limited to, the "Consumer Loan Act," R.S.17:10-1 et seq., the "Retail Installment Sales Act of 1960," P.L.1960, c.40 (C.17:16C-1 et seq.), the "pawnbroking law," R.S.45:22-1 et seq., Article 12 of "The Banking Act of 1948," P.L.1948, c.67 (C.17:9A-53 et seq.) and P.L.1959, c.91 (C.17:9A-59.1 et seq.).

L.1993,c.33,s.2.