The office of a Los Angeles woman accused of engaging in the practice of law without a license and charging Filipino immigrants five-figure amounts for bogus legal services has been seized by the State Bar of California.
The State Bar executed the seizure on Nov. 21 after filing a petition with the Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that Salve Esperanza, who did business as Prestige Network Resource Consulting Inc., engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, according to a news release.
“Esperanza has never been licensed to practice law in California, nor was she authorized by any attorney to act on (complaining witnesses’) behalf,” the State Bar reported. “Despite this, she misled clients by claiming to be responsible for securing immigration benefits, such as green cards and student visas.”
In one incident, Esperanza portrayed herself as an attorney to a client from the Philippines who paid her $11,340 for immigration assistance in November 2019 in order for the client and his wife to establish U.S. residency, the Superior Court petition states. The couple was directed to enroll at California Trinity University and to take jobs with an employer with whom Esperanza allegedly collaborated. Ultimately, however, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied the couple’s application due to a failure to submit crucial documents, according to the State Bar.
A similar turn of events happened to another complaining witness, who paid Esperanza $12,000 to handle a green card application.
“This case is a stark reminder of the risks posed by unauthorized practitioners,” George Cardona, the State Bar’s chief trial counsel, said in a prepared statement. “Esperanza exploited individuals seeking lawful immigration status, taking their money and jeopardizing their futures. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the public from fraudulent actors such as this.”
The State Bar said the punishment for those convicted of the unauthorized practice of law is often left in the hands of local authorities.
“Obtaining a seizure order and injunction from a California Superior Court is a significant action and the most heightened enforcement mechanism the State Bar can pursue in connection with the unauthorized practice of law (UPL),” the State Bar told the Southern California Record in an email. “While we cannot speak to the details of this case, we can say that we routinely refer UPL cases to local law enforcement, which can take further action at their discretion.”
The state’s Business and Professions Code says the unauthorized practice of law can result in a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.
In Esperanza’s case, a review of client filings she sent to USCIS showed that in at least two incidents, Esperanza checked a box that claimed, “I am an attorney or accredited representative …” the State Bar reported.
The State Bar also sent numerous letters to Esperanza requesting a written response to allegations that she was engaging in the practice of law without a license, but the letters produced no responses, according to the Superior Court petition.
The seizure of Esperanza’s office led to the collection of 30 boxes of client files as well as five computers, the State Bar reported. The State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel opened more than 900 UPL practices during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.