(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this section and Section 24004.5, a sheriff or clerk, or any of their deputies, shall not do any of the following:
(1)
Practice law or have as a partner a lawyer or anyone who acts as a lawyer for a collection agency.
(2)
Act as a collector or for any collection agency or have as a partner a collector or anyone who acts as a collector for a collection agency in the county where he resides and holds office.
(b)
Paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall not apply to a reserve or auxiliary deputy sheriff who is admitted to practice law in this state. However, a reserve or auxiliary deputy sheriff may not represent any person in any matter concerning an event or transaction if the reserve or auxiliary deputy sheriff has performed or knows he will perform any act relating to the event or transaction in performance of his or her duties as a reserve or auxiliary deputy sheriff.