News Releases

State Bar Seizes the Practice of a Non-Lawyer Who Preyed on Immigrants

The State Bar of California has seized the unauthorized law practice of a Los Angeles woman who scammed dozens of immigrants by posing as an attorney who could help them obtain legal residency.

Judith Gil, who had never been admitted to the California Bar, led her clients to believe that she was qualified to perform legal services in immigration matters, a deception with dire consequences for several of her clients.

From October to December 2018, Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs found that Judith Gil not only offered a variety of unauthorized services, she told clients that she had special influence at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), guaranteed outcomes on her clients’ cases, failed to perform work for which she was hired, and even advised clients to lie to USCIS. Her inaction on a case led to one client’s deportation order. 

Another client had no other option but return to Guatemala to reside with her husband who was deported after Gil failed to perform the work for which she was hired. Other clients had to hire an attorney after Gil took their money and abandoned their cases.

On February 11, the State Bar’s request to the Los Angeles County Superior Court for a court order was granted, which allowed the State Bar to assume jurisdiction of Gil’s two law offices, shut down her practice and reclaim over 300 boxes containing approximately 1000 active client files. The Bar is in the process of reviewing bank statements recovered from Gil’s office to identify which bank accounts need to be frozen. Gil had been operating under the business name of Judith Gil dba FJA and Associates.

Arraignment for Gil is set for March 12, 2019, at the Los Angeles County Criminal Justice Center.

The State Bar of California has a dedicated unit to investigate and address the unauthorized practice of law, including those who give unlicensed legal advice, advertise themselves as “notarios” or otherwise pose as attorneys.

Immigration consultants are allowed to translate answers to questions on state or federal forms, obtain copies of supporting documents and refer their clients to legal representation. But immigration consultants cannot represent them in court, however, or provide specific legal advice. If they do, they could be prosecuted for the unauthorized practice of law.

If an attorney practices law while his or her license is suspended, or they have been disbarred, it is also considered the unauthorized practice of law.

People who have been targeted by someone who is unlicensed 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 citizenship or immigration status.

The State Bar advises anyone in California to avoid fraud from attorneys and unlicensed legal providers, including non-attorneys using the title notario, by taking some of the following steps:

• Ask for the attorney's full name and State Bar number. Before hiring the attorney or paying any sum of money, look up the attorney on the State Bar website (www.calbar.ca.gov), or the state in which they are licensed, to see if their license is active and whether they have any history of discipline. Consumers can also call the State Bar at 800-843-9053.
• If the attorney is representing you in immigration matters, make sure they are licensed to practice before the Executive Office of Immigration Review.
• Make sure to get your contract in writing as well as receipts for payments you make.
• Be wary if someone requires cash payments. If you must pay in cash, be sure to have a written receipt.
• Do not hire anyone who threatens to report your immigration status if you do not pay them immediately.
• Keep a paper trail. If you don't have a bank account, use a cashier's check, and insist on a written receipt. If you've already made a payment, you are entitled to ask for an accounting of your bills.

Additional State Bar resources for consumers:

• File an online complaint about the unauthorized practice of law – English/Spanish
• File an online complaint about an attorney – English/Spanish
  (complaint forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian)
• Look up an attorney to check if they are licensed
• Avoid fraud by unauthorized legal providers
• Multilingual State Bar legal resources for consumers

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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.