Olivia Theresa Ibarra was admitted to the California Bar 22nd December 1976, but is now resigned. Olivia graduated from USC Law School.

Lawyer Information

NameOlivia Theresa Ibarra
First Admitted22 December 1976 (48 years, 4 months ago)
StatusResigned
Bar Number71307

Contact

Phone Number562-434-3304
Fax Number562-434-0346

Schools

Law SchoolUSC Law School (Los Angeles CA)
Undergraduate SchoolCalifornia St University Long Beach (CA)

Address

Current Address5318 E 2nd St #216
Long Beach, CA 90803
Map

History

15 October 1999Resigned (25 years, 6 months ago)
Resignation with charges pending 99-Q-11284
15 July 1999Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 9 months ago)
Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 99-Q-11284
21 June 1999Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 96-O-01934
24 December 1998Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-15362
17 July 1998Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 9 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-10586
1 June 1998Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-15362 (26 years, 11 months ago)
16 January 1998Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 3 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 96-O-01934
29 September 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 97-O-10586
21 July 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 9 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
17 July 1997Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-10586 (27 years, 9 months ago)
20 March 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 1 month ago)
Ordered inactive 96-O-01934
23 December 1996Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-01934 (28 years, 4 months ago)
22 December 1976Admitted to the State Bar of California (48 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

July 17, 1998

OLIVIA THERESA IBARRA [#71307], 47, of Long Beach was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 120-day actual suspension and until she makes restitution, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, she must prove her rehabilitation. The order took effect July 17, 1998.

In a default hearing, the State Bar Court found that Ibarra committed acts of misconduct in two cases.

In the first matter, she was hired by a high tech firm to obtain a labor certification and change of visa status for an immigrant the company wished to hire as an engineer. Because the company could not find qualified workers, it stressed the urgency of quick action by Ibarra.

She told the company she filed the application. After numerous phone calls and written communications, she asked for additional documents, which the company sent immediately.

After more unanswered phone calls, the company sought a status report, the return of some documents and a refund. Ibarra finally submitted the required documents to the INS, but never responded to any other requests by the company. The company eventually obtained verbal approval to hire the engineer.

The State Bar Court found that Ibarra failed to communicate with clients, perform legal services competently, refund fees or return files. She also did not respond to State Bar inquiries about the matter.

The court made a similar finding in a second case in which Ibarra abandoned clients who hired her to handle an immigration matter. She was asked to obtain visa extensions and convert the status of her clients from vistors to non-quota resident aliens, as well as to obtain permission for one of the clients to be employed pending the change in status.

The clients paid Ibarra $1,500 and provided documents including birth certificates, passports, a marriage certificate, passport photographs and fingerprint cards.

Despite the clients' requests, Ibarra never returned their documents or refunded their fee.

Ibarra also was disciplined earlier last year for similar misconduct, involving failure to complete a client's immigration case. In that matter, she was placed on probation and given an actual 30-day suspension.

January 16, 1998

OLIVIA T. IBARRA [#71307], 46, of Long Beach was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 30-day suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Jan. 16, 1998.

In August 1988, Ibarra’s client paid her $2,700 to handle an immigration matter. In 1993, the client’s petition for alien worker status was approved.

Ibarra was then supposed to process the client’s immigration visa applications and ultimately obtain legal resident status for the client.

After six months of not returning the client’s phone calls, Ibarra forwarded an application for finalizing the case. Although the client completed the application, Ibarra never filed it and the INS eventually closed her file due to lack of activity. The client was forced to hire a new attorney.

Ibarra also did not cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

In mitigation, she has not been disciplined in 19 years of practice.