(a) Upon application by the chair or acting chair of the committee or subcommittee on unlawful practice of the law of any recognized bar association in any county in the second judicial department, alleging that such committee or subcommittee has reasonable cause to believe that any party (to wit: any person, firm, corporation or other organization) is unlawfully practicing law or unlawfully assuming to practice law or is engaging in any business or activity which may involve the unlawful practice of law, and further alleging that such committee or subcommittee is conducting or intends to conduct an investigation with respect to such practice, business or activity, the clerk of this court is empowered and authorized to issue, in the name of the presiding justice of the court, subpoenas directing the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers and records before such committee or subcommittee at the time when and at the place where it will convene. The clerk of the court is also empowered and authorized to issue such subpoenas upon the application of any such party.

(b) Every committee or subcommittee conducting such preliminary investigation is empowered to take the testimony of witnesses under oath and to transcribe such testimony. Such witnesses may be sworn by any person authorized by law to administer oaths.