A West Hollywood lawyer will have his license suspended for failure to meet conditions of the probation to which he was sentenced for a previous offense.
The lawyer, Samuel Robert Spira, 52, lists his office address as 8265 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 205, in West Hollywood.
According to a story in the Northern California Record, a website that covers the Northern California judicial system, Spira was put on probation a year ago when he lied about whether he’d taken a required continuing legal education exam.
“Spira did not contact and meet with his probation deputy or file quarterly compliance reports with the state bar’s probation office as required under the conditions of his probation, according to the order handed down May 19,” the NorCal Record reported.
“The nature of the respondent’s probation violations are serious and reflect a total disregard by him for this disciplinary process or his need to comply with his professional obligations,” said the state bar order. “This conclusion is buttressed by his disregard and failure to participate in this resulting disciplinary proceeding.”
Spira was found in May of last year to have lied to the state bar in claiming he had completed 25 hours of continuing legal education. His one-year suspension was stayed and he was placed on probation for a year.
The state bar website says Spira was admitted to the California bar in March 1995. It lists Spira’s areas of practice as real estate, business and corporate law and entertainment and sports law.
@Jonathan Simmons: I too, as a client have experienced both ends of the spectrum in being represented on various issues. Initially selecting an attorney from a veritable minefield, then avoiding the potential chicanery once represented is yet another challenge. As the daughter of an astute attorney I have learned to select based on the moral, ethical compass and work ethic plus a heavy dose of gut feeling. My long time dependable general practice attorney had retired practice due to ill health. Last week, I interviewed a “top Century City attorney” recommended by a colleague. Here’s how it went: Initial email… Read more »
By any journalistic standard, I don’t see how that is remotely acceptable.
My opinion is not meant with hostility, but rather the true nature of what passes legitimate “Continuing Education” per the State Bar of California, who Grants all lawyers who have met the prerequisites, THEIR PROFESSIONAL LICENCE AS A “LAWYER”. It can be seen as merely a kind of “work permit” as it is illegal for anyone to practice law (or say get and find a job) but the enormous power of knowledge combined with a paying client ignorant of what is truly legal or not … A lawyer can tell/charge/explain their own malfeasance to a client as “Well the law… Read more »
We can engage in generalized attacks against those in a certain profession on this website now?
People are free to criticize what they see as the behavior or practices of a certain profession but may not post attacks on a particular person.
SURPRISING I’m sure he, like most lawyers, hate the requirements for continued education, but the State Bar of California is usually very lax and class held on “MAJOR NEW CHANGES TO TAX LAW” held at The Ritz Carlton (or the like) IN HAWAII for 6 days, and has an hour in the hotel’s banquet hall for a little over an hour, usually passes as “continuing education”.
Lawyers are supposed to know how to lie, and get away with it …. That’s their job. 🙂