Regulatory and Discipline Counsel for Legal Professionals
State Bar Investigations and State Bar Discipline Defense
Expert Testimony
MCLE Programming
CONTACT US FOR A CONSULTATION
LOS ANGELES | 818.484.8955
SAN FRANCISCO | 415.523.6001
Email: jham@hamlawoffice.com
When lawyers or law departments need help with legal ethics or the law of lawyering in California, or receive a State Bar complaint, they call Jim Ham first. Jim has responded to thousands of attorney ethics inquiries and California State Bar discipline investigations, and has tried numerous State Bar discipline cases to decision and through appeal. He also occasionally assists bar applicants — law students, foreign attorneys and attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions – to navigate the California State Bar moral character determination and State Bar licensing application processes.
Jim has served as outside California legal ethics and attorney regulation counsel to law firms of all sizes, to corporate in-house law departments, and to individual attorneys. Jim combines decades of experience in commercial civil litigation, law firm management and legal ethics to deliver skilled, independent, objective and trusted advice to his clients.
State Bar discipline matters can present serious potential reputational as well as business risks. Having counsel experienced with the forum and the rules represents a wise investment. Jim’s experience benefits clients from the start of a State Bar investigation until its conclusion. He can tackle the most complicated State Bar case, and can guide you through the State Bar investigation maze and discipline process.
Jim’s previous experience includes membership on the Special Commission for the Revision of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California, whose recommendations for the comprehensive redrafting of the California Rules of Professional Conduct were substantially adopted by the California Supreme Court in November 2018. He taught legal professions and legal ethics at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. Jim was also a member of the California State Bar Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (“COPRAC”). His bar association memberships have included the American Bar Association Center on Professional Responsibility, the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, the Association of Discipline Counsel, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Jim has been recognized for decades as a Preeminent AV rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell and named a Southern California Super Lawyer every year since 2006. He is licensed to practice law in California and Texas.
Jim’s public service and pro bono activities have included serving on the Boards of Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library and California Indian Legal Services.
Jim has spoken and writes regularly on the topic of legal ethics. He actively posts of breaking ethics news and developments at his LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/in/JimHamLegalEthics
Our Services:
- Advice and consultation regarding ethics issues which arise in an attorney’s practice
- Assistance and defense of State Bar investigations, discipline trials and appeals
- Expert consultation and testimony regarding the standard of care relating to an attorney’s professional performance
- Client trust account issues
- Implementation of law office management accounting systems and software
- MCLE compliance audits advice and assistance
- Litigation, mediation, and arbitration of fee disputes
- Assistance with conflicts of interest, motions to disqualify, and motions to withdraw
- Multi-jurisdictional practice and unlawful practice of law Issues
- Law corporations and limited liability partnership Issues
- Moral Character applications
- Law School academic discipline and investigations
