Unauthorized Practice of Law

The State Bar of California seized the business of Jose Baez of West Covina on Friday, December 19, 2025, for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL), the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) announced today.

Baez, doing business as Jose M. Baez & Associates Law Group of West Covina, Inc., placed attorney ads in a Spanish-language outlet, where he represented himself as an attorney and eviction law specialist with more than 41 years in practice.

A Los Angeles Superior Court granted OCTC an interim order on Friday to execute the seizure following an ex parte hearing with the court. OCTC seized seven boxes of case files, electronic files, and other evidence of UPL conduct at Baez’s home in West Covina, where he had signs stating he provided legal services for evictions, bankruptcy, divorce, child support, immigration, and civil suits.

Baez has never been licensed to practice law in California, nor is he authorized by any attorney to act on their behalf.

“The unauthorized practice of law (UPL) puts the public at serious risk, especially those who depend on legal professionals to protect their rights,” said Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona. “When individuals falsely claim to be attorneys, clients can suffer financial loss, missed deadlines, and lasting harm. Mr. Baez misled the community by advertising legal services and decades of experience, despite never being licensed to practice law in California.”

In the fall of 2024, the State Bar received a UPL complaint against Baez from a couple who contacted Baez to assist them with an eviction notice after seeing his ad in the Spanish-language outlet.

Before meeting with Baez, the couple texted him to confirm he was a licensed attorney. Baez texted back that he graduated from law school, which the couple took as confirmation that he was licensed to practice law. The couple met with Baez at his West Covina home, where he had set up an office in the front entryway of his home.

Baez said he would charge them $500 to handle their case, including negotiating an agreement with their landlord and drafting and filing a response in court if the landlord initiated an unlawful detainer matter. The couple provided him with a $100 deposit. Baez did not respond to the couple’s subsequent inquiries, and after weeks of unsuccessful attempts to get an update on their case, they filed a complaint with the State Bar.

Clients of Jose Baez, dba as Jose M. Baez & Associates Law Group of West Covina, Inc., can retrieve files by calling 213-765-1590 (English and Spanish).

The State Bar has a unit dedicated to investigating and addressing UPL throughout California. People who have been targeted by someone who is not licensed to practice law can file an unauthorized practice of law complaint with the State Bar. There is no cost, and U.S. citizenship is not required; the State Bar will not ask complainants about their citizenship or immigration status. The online complaint form is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

As a warning to the public, the names of those who have received unauthorized practice of law Cease and Desist notices are posted, by county, on the State Bar website. The State Bar also provides consumer information about avoiding legal fraud, including the unauthorized practice of law, and tips about avoiding immigration legal services fraud.

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The State Bar of California’s mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.