Attorney Erin Joyce has extensive experience in State Bar investigations and disciplinary proceedings, plus over twenty-five years of civil litigation practice. Erin was admitted in 1990 and practiced for nearly eight years in an intellectual property boutique before joining the Office of Chief Trial Counsel as a prosecutor for the State Bar, from 1997 through 2016. Erin has over twenty years of experience handling all aspects of discipline cases against attorneys in State Bar Court, from the filing of the complaint through trial and review. She has personally tried dozens of State Bar trials and several appeals. Erin has a comprehensive understanding of how State Bar investigations and proceedings unfold. Before going into private practice, Erin served as Chief Special Investigator for the Los Angeles Fire Department, as a prosecutor for the State Bar of California, and as a lawyer for multiple private practices.

Practice Areas

• Ethics Consultations
• State Bar Discipline
• Moral Character Determination Proceedings
• Reinstatements before the State Bar Court
• Expert Witness in Legal Ethics

Education

• Southwestern School of Law, Los Angeles, California J.D. – 1990 (First in Class)
• UCLA, Los Angeles, California B.A. – 1987 (History with Certificate in Business Administration) Professional Associations and Memberships
• Abraham Lincoln University, Adjunct Professor
• Association of Discipline Defense Counsel, Former Vice-Chair, 2020-2022
• Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL), Member
• Attorney of Distinction, Pasadena Magazine, March 2021
• California Lawyers Association, Attorney Health and Wellness Committee
• California Lawyers Association, Future of Lawyering Taskforce, Member
• California Lawyers Association, Small Firms Section Executive Committee, Member
• Continuing Education of the Bar, Faculty
• Daily Journal, 2022 and 2023 Top Professional Responsibility Lawyer
• LACBA Future of Lawyering Taskforce, Chair
• LACBA Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Section, Former Chair
• LACBA Networking Meeting Steering Committee, Chair
• LACBA Delegation to Conference of California Bar Associations, Past Chair
• LACBA President’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession, Member
• LACBA 2022 Outstanding Service Award, Received for Work Completed Re: California Paraprofessionals Working Group
• Practicing Law Institute, Faculty
• LACBA Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee (PREC), Chair
• San Fernando Valley Bar Association Board of Trustees, 2020-2022
• San Fernando Valley Bar Association 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award
• Southwestern University School of Law Alumni Association Executive Committee Board Member
• Super Lawyer for 2022 and 2023
• Women in the Law Institute, Faculty
• Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Member

Publications

• “The Perils of Flat Fee Agreements Under the New Rules of Professional Conduct,” LACBA Update – September 2019
• “Bar Proposals will Upend the Legal Profession,” Los Angeles Daily Journal – October 2, 2019
• “How to Avoid a State Bar Complaint,” CAALA’s The Advocate – December 2019 Edition
• “Zealous Advocacy During the Pandemic / Practicing Law in Interesting Times,” CAALA’s The Advocate – April 2020
• “Practicing Law in Interesting Times,” California Lawyers Association, Attorney at Law Magazine (Vol. 6 No. 2) – May 2020
• “What You Don’t Know About Trust Accounting Can Get You Disbarred,” LACBA Update – May 2020
• “The Buck Stops Here,” CLA The Practitioner/ SOLO (Vol. 26, Is. No. 3) – Summer 2020
• “State Bar Issues Draft Rules for Temporary Licensure Program,” Los Angeles Daily Journal – September 2020
• “Tales of Civility in Times of Pandemic,” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine – October 2020
• “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished – Even Humanitarian Loans to Clients Must Comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct,” (Vol. 6, No. 4) Attorney at Law Magazine – October 2020
• “The Perils of Flat-Fee Agreements Under the Current Rules of Professional Conduct,” Attorney at Law Magazine – January 2021
• “Pitfalls to Avoid with Litigation Funding,” CAALA’s The Advocate – January 2021
• “LA County Bar: Others Oppose Paraprofessionals in Court,” Los Angeles Daily Journal – April 2021
• “Flat Fees: Follow the Rules, No Problem” (Reprint from Attorney at Law Magazine, Vol.7., No. 1), Valley Lawyer – June 2021
• “Don’t Be Tempted by the Fruit of the Alternative Payment App Tree!” CLA-The Practitioner/SOLO – July 2021
• “The Time Has Come for a State Bar Expungement Procedure,” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine – July 2021
• “How Judicial Officers Can Assist in the Creation of Mental Health of Attorneys While Supporting and Aiding The Delivery of Justice,” California Lawyers Association, By Erin Joyce, the Hon. Kevin Rosenberg and Carolin Shining – Fall 2021
• “Closing Argument: Restorative Justice for California’s Attorneys,” By Erin Joyce, Esq., Los Angeles Lawyer – September 2021
• “Paraprofessional Program Will Perpetuate Disparities,” By Erin Joyce and Raquel Greenberg, Los Angeles Daily Journal – October 2021
• “Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Mind,” By Erin Joyce, Esq. and Raquel Greenberg, California Lawyers Association – December 2021
• Quoted in “Despite Lawmakers’ Criticism, State Bar Trustees Push Ahead with Plan to Allow Non-Lawyers to Practice Law,” Los Angeles Daily Journal – February 2022
• “Ethics of Social Media,” By Erin Joyce, Esq. and Raquel Greenberg, California Lawyers Association, The Practitioner for Solo & Small Firms – Spring 2022
• Featured in San Fernando Valley Bar Association Valley Lawyer Article, “Legal Moms: Interviews with the Valley’s Busiest Female Professionals” – May 2022
• “Special Ethics Issues for the Trust and Estate Attorney,” By Erin Joyce, Esq. and Raquel Greenberg, Los Angeles County Bar Association – June 2022
• “Navigating the World of Co-Counsel Relationships,” By Erin Joyce, Esq. and Raquel Greenberg, CAALA Advocate – July 2022
• “How to Responsibly Grow Your Social Media Following,” By Erin Joyce, Esq. and David Wall, CAALA Vegas 2022
• “How to Be Prepared for the Coming Trust Account Audits,” By Erin Joyce, Esq., Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 2023
• “What’s Next with the Client Trust Accounting Protection Program,” by Erin Joyce, Esq., California Litigation, California Lawyers Association, September 2023
• “New Frontier for Trust Accounting,” by Erin Joyce, Esq., Los Angeles Daily Journal – September 1, 2023 Programs and Presentations
• Program Speaker on “Avoiding the State Bar Discipline System,” State Bar of California’s Solo and Small Firm Summit – June 2012
• Program Speaker on “Significant Rule Changes that Impact the Small Firm or Solo Practitioner,” LACBA – December 2018
• Program Speaker on “New Rules for the Small Firm Practitioner,” Eastern Bar Association – January 17, 2019
• Program Speaker on “New Rules of Professional Conduct,” Los Angeles County Bar Association – January 31, 2019
• Program Speaker on “The State Bar’s Proposal to Allow Non-Attorney Practice of Law” – December 2019, January 2020
• Program speaker on “What You Don’t Know About Trust Accounting Can Get You Disbarred,” LACBA Ethics Symposium – January 2020
• Program Speaker on “Ethics for the Government Lawyer,” Los Angeles County Counsel – February 2020
• Program Speaker on “Bankruptcy & COVID-19: Basics & Ethical Considerations,” Outside Counsel Network – April 2020
• Program Speaker on “Wellness Strategies for the Legal Community,” The Lawyer Assistance Program – May 2020
• Program Speaker on “The Ethics of Legal Marketing,” Outside Counsel Network – June 2020
• Program Speaker on “Avoiding the State Bar Discipline System,” State Bar of California’s Solo and Small Firm Summit – June 2020
• Program Speaker on “Trials During COVID,” CAALA – December 2020
• Program Speaker on “Life and the Practice of Law After COVID 19,” Outside Counsel Network – July 2020
• Program Speaker on “How Client Entanglements Can Jeopardize Your License” – August 2020
• Program Speaker on “Starting and Building Your Law Practice in a Pandemic World,” PLI Program – August 2020
• Program Speaker on “The Intersection of Attorney Ethics, Mental Health and the Covid Pandemic,” Outside Counsel Network – October 2020
• Program Speaker on “Thriving in Volatile Times and Growing Your Practice,” MCLE – November 2020
• Program Speaker on “How to Pivot Your Practice: The Importance of Competence, Mentorship, & Effective Communication,” MCLE – November 2020
• Program Speaker on “Trials During COVID,” CAALA – December 2020
• Program Speaker at LACBA Ethics Symposium – January 2021
• Program Speaker on “What You Don’t Know About Trust Accounts Can Get You Disbarred” – January 2020, April 2020, January 2021
• Program Speaker on Contemporary Ethical Issues – February 2021
• Program Speaker on “How to Avoid a State Bar Complaint” – February 2021
• Program Speaker on “The Ethics of Referrals,” Outside Counsel Network – November 2020, March 2021
• Program Speaker on “Ethics Do’s and Don’ts for Lawyer Marketing and Advertising in 2020,” CAALA – March 2021
• Program Speaker on “Ethics of Alternative Billing” – April 2021
• Program Speaker on “Special Ethics Issues for Trusts and Estates Attorneys” – April 2021
• Program Speaker on “Mediation Ethics” – May 2021
• Program Speaker on “How Law Firms Can Thrive in These Turbulent Times,” Outside Counsel Network – May 26, 2021
• Program Speaker on “The State Bar’s Attack on Lawyers: Big Tech Takeover and How Paraprofessionals Will Affect Your Practice” – June 2021
• Program Speaker on “Pitfalls for the Unwary: How Changes in the Rules of Professional Conduct Can Expose You to Serious Liability,” California Lawyers Association – July 2021
• Program Speaker on “How Judges Affect Attorney Wellbeing,” California Lawyer Association – August 2021
• Program Speaker, “The Basics of How to Manage Your Trust Account to Avoid Discipline,” CAALA Vegas – September 2021
• Program Speaker on “Deconstructing Girardi,” Westside Bar Association – October 2021
• Program Speaker on “The Ultimate Playbook: Building Your Business Without Breaking Ethics Rules,” American Bar Association Live Webinar – November 2021
• The Mexican American Bar Association, “The Dilemma Facing California Lawyers Due to The State Bar’s Proposal Which Would Allow Paraprofessionals to Practice Law,” By Erin Joyce and Carolin Shining – November 15, 2021
• Debate Re: LACBA Paraprofessional Program – December 14, 2021
• Program Speaker on “The Ethics of Social Media & Attorney Competency” – January 19, 2022
• Program Speaker on “Ethics of Referrals,” Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles MCLE – January 25, 2022
• Program Speaker, “CYA! With Attorney Erin Joyce and Anne Thompson,” Lawyers Mutual – February 3, 2022
• Program Speaker, “Ethics Are …,” MRC Television – February 18, 2022
• Program Speaker on “Changes in the Profession Due to Technology,” San Fernando Valley Bar Association – March 8, 2022
• Program Speaker on “California’s New Technology Competence Requirements for Attorneys,” Alameda County MCLE with Jean Cha – March 9, 2022
• Program Speaker, “BALI Bootcamp: Reduce Liability While Serving Clients Well,” Ethics MCLE – March 16, 2022
• Program Speaker on “Random Trust Account Audits are Coming – Are You Prepared?”, TEN Westlake Village MCLE – April 5, 2022
• Program Speaker on “Navigating the Moral Character Determination Process,” By Erin Joyce & Zachary D. Wechsler, Southwestern Law School Alumni MCLE – April 14, 2022
• Program Speaker on “How to Avoid a State Bar Complaint,” MRC Entertainment – May 20, 2022
• Program Speaker, “Special Ethics Issues for the Trust and Estate Attorney,” Los Angeles County Bar Assn. – June 8, 2022
• Program Speaker on “How to Avoid a State Bar Complaint,” La Jolla Bar Association – June 9, 2022
• Program Speaker on “The Ethics of Social Media and Attorney Competency,” Lawyers Mutual MCLE Presentation (Legal Ethics) – August 2022
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “How to Responsibly Grow Your Social Media Following,” CAALA Vegas 2022
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “How to Avoid Problems with the State Bar,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, Immigration Law Section – January 9, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “What You Need to Know About CTAPP to be Prepared for a State Bar Audit,” Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company – January 17, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “What You Need to Know About CTAPP to be Prepared for a State Bar Audit,” Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) – January 24, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “Changes in State Bar CTA Monitoring,” LACBA PREC 2023 Ethics Symposium, Day Two, Panel One – January 25, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “What You Need to Know About the Upcoming State Bar Trust Account Audits,” Western San Bernardino County Bar Association (WSBCBA) – February 16, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “What You Need to Know About Trust Accounting to Protect Your License,” California Lawyers Association, Solo & Small Firm Section – March 8, 2023
• MCLE Presentation, “Planning for the Unexpected and Expected: Considerations for Closing Your Firm,” California Employment Lawyers Association, by Erin Joyce and Mary Grace Guzman – March 10, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation, “Ethical Considerations in the Practice of Law,” Sullivan On Comp, March 14, 2023
• MCLE Presentation, “What You Need to Know About Trust Accounting to Protect Your License,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, by Ellen Pansky and Erin Joyce – March 29, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation at Women in Trial Travel Summit entitled, “How to Recover the Referral Fees You Are Owed,” Conrad Punta Mita, Mexico – April 15, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation entitled, “What You Need to Know About CTAPP to be Prepared for a State Bar Audit,” California Forum Wealth Counsel – April 25, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation entitled, “IOLTA/CTAPP: The Dos and Don’ts of Handling Others’ Funds,” by Erin Joyce, Esq. and Rachelle Cohen, Esq. – May 15, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation entitled, “What to Do When Calamity Strikes Your Firm,” CLA Solo & Small Firm Summit, by Erin Joyce, Esq. and Mary Grace Guzman, Esq. – June 15, 2023
• Program Speaker, MCLE Presentation entitled, “What You Need to Know About CTAPP to be Prepared for a State Bar Audit,” Women Lawyers Ventura County – June 28, 2023
• Program Speaker, “What You Need to Know About CTAPP to be Prepared for a State Bar Audit,” CAALA 2023 Las Vegas – September 1, 2023
• Program Speaker, “How to Avoid a State Bar Complaint,” BALI Bootcamp – September 28, 2023
• Program Speaker, “A Blueprint for Success: Building Your Own Thriving Law Practice; Panel 2: Taking Care of Finances,” with
Ryan Kilmer, CFO Financial Clarity LLC and Amanda Moghaddam, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company; CLA Solo & Small Firm Section & LACBA Small Firms Section – October 6, 2023
• Program Speaker, “Rule 8.3: Reporting Professional Conduct,” The Esquire Network (“TEN”), Westlake Village – November 7, 2023
• Program Speaker, “Rule 8.3: Reporting Professional Conduct,” ProVisors, East Valley Lawyers Affinity Group – November 16, 2023
• Program Speaker, “The State Bar & Efforts to Stifle Free Speech,” The Esquire Network (“TEN”), Pasadena – December 1, 2023
• Program Speaker, “The State Bar is Coming For You,” Justice HQ MCLExtravaganza 2024, Ethics Panel – January 10, 2024
• Program Speaker, “Dealing with Impaired Colleagues; What You Need to Know About Trust Accounting a Year Later,” Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles – January 16, 2024
• Program Speaker, “Impaired Colleague? How Neutrals Address Attorney Competence, the Warning Signs, and Avoiding a Disciplinary Complaint,” Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, by Lita Abella & Erin Joyce – January 17, 2024”
• Interviewed by Lawyers Guild Radio Show, “Snitch Rule?” – January 24, 2024
• Program Speaker, “The State Bar is Coming for You!” TEN Networks – January 27, 2024
• Program Speaker, “Navigating Employment Issues for Non-Employment Lawyers,” TEN Networks – January “27, 2024
• Program Speaker, “Ethics of Using AI: An Examination of The California Bar’s AI Regulations,” Beverly Hill Bar Association – January 30, 2024
• Program Speaker, “CTAPP: One Year Later,” California State University, Northridge Attorney Networking Group – February 7, 2024

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