Home / Crime and Justice / Immigration Attorney Accused of Practicing Law Without License
Immigration Attorney Accused of Practicing Law Without License
14 Aug
Summary
- An immigration attorney is accused of practicing law without a license for over 40 years.
- A client paid $4,500 for services never rendered and for an asylum application not filed.
- The State Bar warns vulnerable immigrants are at serious risk from unauthorized practice.
The State Bar of California is investigating John Minnella, an immigration attorney from Tustin, for the alleged unauthorized practice of law. The investigation, initiated in 2024 following a client's complaint, revealed Minnella may not have held a valid law license in the U.S. for over four decades.
A Spanish-speaking client reported paying $4,500 in 2011 for a work permit through an asylum application, services he never received. The client alleged he signed a retainer agreement in English he did not fully comprehend, and his asylum application was never filed.
According to the State Bar, Minnella, operating under business names like J.L. Minnella and Associates, is neither licensed nor registered as an immigration consultant, despite offering services in immigration, asylum, citizenship, and deportation defense. Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona highlighted the significant danger to immigrants pursuing life-altering legal proceedings.
Minnella reportedly told investigators he believed his license in Nicaragua and graduation from a California law school exempted him from state requirements, a claim the State Bar found unsubstantiated. Practicing law without a license is a misdemeanor in California, and the State Bar can refer cases for criminal prosecution.
