James Hsiaosheng Li was admitted to the California Bar 12th June 1995, but has since been disbarred. James graduated from UCLA SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameJames Hsiaosheng Li
First Admitted12 June 1995 (29 years, 11 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number176662

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number626-322-5039
Fax Number626-628-3079

Schools

Law SchoolUCLA SOL (Los Angeles CA)
Undergraduate SchoolCalifornia St University Fullerton (CA)

Address

Current AddressLaw Ofc James Li, PO Box 5399
Buena Park, CA 90622
Map

History

10 September 2021Disbarred (3 years, 7 months ago)
Disbarment 15-O-13353
24 October 2019Not eligible to practice law in CA (5 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 15-O-13353
29 August 2018Not eligible to practice law in CA (6 years, 8 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 16-N-12766
20 March 2017Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 1 month ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 11-O-14430
2 March 2017Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 2 months ago)
Ordered inactive 16-N-12766
28 July 2016Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 16-N-12766 (8 years, 9 months ago)
1 July 2016Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
15 March 2016Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 15-O-13353 (9 years, 1 month ago)
6 February 2016Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 2 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 11-O-14430
28 September 2012Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 11-O-14430 (12 years, 7 months ago)
12 June 1995Admitted to the State Bar of California (29 years, 11 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

February 6, 2016

JAMES HSIAOSHENG LI [#176662], 50, of Buena Park, was suspended from the practice of law for six months and ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. He was also placed on two years’ probation and faces a two-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect Feb. 6, 2016.

A State Bar Court hearing judge found Li culpable of six counts of misconduct in two client matters. Li appealed, saying he had acted in good faith. A three-judge review panel found him culpable of five of the six charges with an additional aggravating factor and upheld the judge’s discipline recommendation.

In one matter, Li charged a client he was representing in a civil suit $12,000, a nonrefundable retainer, plus an additional $30,000 in advanced fees he claimed were refundable “when the guarantee by the attorney is not met.” Li also agreed to handle any appeals free of charge. After an unfavorable ruling, Li reneged on his promise to handle the case for free, saying he’d have to charge the client because she did not cooperate with him in court and that her testimony was “utterly stupid.”

Li did not deposit the $30,000 advance fee in his client trust account until after the client won a case against him for fraud and breach of contract. On March 5, 2011, the day the trial for fraud and breach of contract was to begin, Li filed a personal bankruptcy petition, causing a stay of the trial. In doing so, Li made a false representation to the bankruptcy court, saying he had undergone credit counseling prior to filing when he had not.

Li also collected an illegal fee by entering into five promissory notes with a client charging unfair interest rates.

Li received some mitigating credit for a lack of prior discipline and community service.