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News Releases



Media Contact

Office of Communications | 213-765-1388 | barcomm@calbar.ca.gov

  • State Bar Seizes Unauthorized Law Practice that Operated as National Family Solutions
    Published: December 1, 2021

    The State Bar of California has seized an unauthorized law practice that operated as National Family Solutions, announced George Cardona, Chief Trial Counsel. The firm, owned by Eric Campbell and Anita Youabian, had offices in Goleta, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara.

  • State Bar Board of Trustees Approves Comprehensive Client Trust Account Protection Program
    Published: November 19, 2021

    At its meeting November 18, the State Bar Board of Trustees approved creation of a new, comprehensive Client Trust Account (CTA) protection program and other corrective actions to strengthen the State Bar’s oversight and regulation of client trust accounts.

  • State Bar Seizes Practice of Brazen Attorney Impersonator Facing Felony Charges in Los Angeles
    Published: November 19, 2021

    The State Bar has seized the practice of an individual who repeatedly and illegally misrepresented himself as an attorney to obtain thousands of dollars from unsuspecting Los Angeles clients, Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona announced Friday. Efferin Deans of Lake Balboa has no fewer than 22 aliases and is not authorized to practice law in California

  • State Bar Court Presiding Judge Catherine Purcell Starts Next Chapter at the Board of Parole Hearings
    Published: November 15, 2021

    Following her appointment last month by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Board of Parole Hearings, State Bar Court Presiding Judge Catherine Purcell’s final day was Friday, November 12, announced Michelle Cramton, Clerk of the State Bar Court.

  • State Bar of California Releases Results of July 2021 Bar Exam
    Published: November 12, 2021

    Today the State Bar released results of the July 2021 California Bar Exam and announced that 3,995 people (53.0 percent of applicants) passed the General Bar Exam. If those who passed satisfy all other requirements for admission, they will be eligible to be licensed by the State Bar to practice law in California.

  • State Bar Seizes Orange County-Based SoCal Latino Legal Services and Ortega Legal Services for Unauthorized Practice of Law
    Published: October 28, 2021

    The State Bar has seized a business based in the city of Orange that was operating as SoCal Latino Legal Services and Ortega Legal Services. The business deliberately misled hundreds of people, predominantly Spanish speakers seeking help with family law cases, criminal cases, evictions, civil rights, medical negligence, and auto accidents. The primary owner, Erika Ortega, claimed she provided legal services in these areas, even though she has never been licensed to practice law in California. 

  • State Bar Concludes Investigation on July Bar Exam Technological Issues
    Published: September 27, 2021

    The State Bar announced it has largely concluded data-gathering on the technological issues experienced by a limited number of examinees during the July California Bar Exam.

  • New Board Chair, Vice-Chair Sworn In; Board Approves Public Comment Period for Plan to License Paraprofessionals
    Published: September 24, 2021

    Today Associate Justice Joshua P. Groban of the California Supreme Court swore in Ruben Duran as Chair of the State Bar Board of Trustees and Brandon Stallings as Vice-Chair at the Board’s first meeting of the 2021-2022 Board year.

  • State Bar of California Names George S. Cardona as New Chief Trial Counsel for the Attorney Discipline System
    Published: August 27, 2021

    Today, the State Bar Board of Trustees announced that it has appointed a new Chief Trial Counsel to lead the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC), which investigates and prosecutes disciplinary matters: George S. Cardona, a long-time prosecutor at both the federal and municipal level and currently the interim City Attorney for Santa Monica.

  • State Bar Board of Trustees Targets Client Trust Account Regulation and Other Measures to Improve the Discipline System
    Published: July 26, 2021

    At its July 23 meeting, the State Bar Board of Trustees took significant steps to strengthen the discipline system, establishing a special committee—the Committee on the Special Discipline Case Audit—to further analyze the audit report on closed discipline complaints against Thomas Girardi and propose a comprehensive corrective action plan.

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