AnonymousBy the State Bar of California
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.
Neither owner has a license to practice law in California, and National Family Solutions, a for-profit California limited liability company, does not fall under any exception to California’s prohibition on the corporate practice of law. National Family Solutions employed Legal Document Assistants and California-licensed attorneys who sought to evade California’s regulatory system governing attorneys, which provides much-needed protection for the public, including requirements for the use of client trust accounts and prohibitions on taking unearned fees.
National Family Solutions claimed that they provided “low-cost” legal services to self-represented litigants through a “provider network of attorneys and other legal professionals.” They solicited clients through their national website and then charged those clients flat fees of approximately $1,000 or more depending on the case type, plus monthly service charges for access to case managers and “legal staff.”
The Better Business Bureau received dozens of complaints about the firm since 2018. National Family Solutions ignored earlier warnings by the State Bar beginning in 2018 that their practices constituted the unauthorized practice of law. National Family Solutions also persisted despite an investigation by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
“National Family Solutions sought to profit by promising vulnerable victims legal services it was not authorized to provide,” said Cardona. “The State Bar is committed to shutting down businesses that persist in such practices.”
On November 16, Judge Thomas P. Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court accepted a stipulation for entry of an order for the State Bar to assume jurisdiction over National Family Solutions signed by a representative of the State Bar, as well as Campbell, Youabian, and their attorney. Judge Anderle also granted the State Bar’s request for a permanent order and injunction. The newest order makes permanent the interim order issued by Judge Anderle on August 5, 2021. That interim order permitted the State Bar to immediately seize client files, freeze business-related bank accounts, begin the process of disabling business-related telephone numbers and websites, and redirect telephone calls and mail to the State Bar. Pursuant to that order, the State Bar located more than 4,000 client files in the National Family Solutions online database dating back to 2008.
The State Bar seeks to return client files to their owners and has established a dedicated phone number for former clients who wish to reclaim their files or documents: 213-765-1724.
The State Bar has a unit dedicated to investigating and addressing the unauthorized practice of law, including those who give legal advice without a license or otherwise pose as attorneys.
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, Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
In 2020, the State Bar opened more than 600 cases in which a nonattorney was alleged to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. The agency referred more than 300 such cases to law enforcement last year.
A State Bar proposal intended to increase access to legal services—currently out for public comment—includes recommendations that would address and improve enforcement efforts against this pervasive problem. Recommendations include:
- Statutory amendments to allow for prosecution of UPL as a felony, with harsher penalties for violations and an extended statute of limitations for charging cases;
- Increased resources and funding for law enforcement and the State Bar to investigate and prosecute UPL;
- Creation of a victim restitution fund for UPL victims; and
- Resources for consumer education that will help legal consumers avoid being victimized by UPL.
Additional State Bar resources for consumers:
- COVID-19 fraud alert
- Legal guides in seven languages, including guides for immigrants on seeking legitimate legal help and avoiding immigration fraud
- Immigration legal resources
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.
