Our office speaks to many licensees after they have been arrested – these arrests can range from driving under the influence, domestic violence, drug possession, assault, and even manslaughter. Often, licensees ask us how their boards or agencies knew about their arrests before he or she even reported it. For Read more…
Our law firm works with professional licensees on a regular basis. Many of these individuals are independent, hard-working individuals, with usually barely enough time to handle their personal lives, let alone to administer or organize their profession as a going concern. This lack of time is often a direct cause Read more…
On September 28, 2014, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 2396, which provides that an individual with an expunged conviction cannot be denied a license solely because of the expunged conviction, notwithstanding any other law in the Business and Professions Code. This new law gives relief to applicants applying to certain Read more…
On November 14, 2014, Steven L. Simas, owner and founder of Simas & Associates, Ltd., will be serving as one of several presenters for Administrative Writs of Mandamus: What You Need to Know. This day-long seminar is being co-hosted by Pincus Professional Education and the Sacramento County Bar Association Administrative Read more…
Internet fraud schemes are prevelant and diverse. Lately, they have been increasingly targeting lawyers and law firms – and more importantly, the banks where lawyers have their client trust accounts. While most are pretty obvious, there has been documented cases where attorneys have fallen victim. And as a result, thousands of Read more…
STAR Certification On January 1, 2013, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (“BAR”) replaced its former “Gold Shield” program with STAR certification. The STAR program is the Bureau’s certification program that applies to a Registered Automotive Repair Dealer that is also a licensed smog check test-and-repair station or a test-only station Read more…
All veterinary technician applicants are required to take the new California veterinary technician examination and the Veterinary Technician National Examination (“VTNE”). As an applicant, if you have taken the California veterinary technician examination and failed prior to March 1, 2014, you are required to take both the California and National examination and pass Read more…
Everyday, it appears that local, state, or even federal authorities are engaging in raids and shutting down Internet cafés. Why? Well, there is nothing inherently illegal about a normal Internet café. They are just locations that provide access to the Internet for a fee. They oftentimes sell coffee, soft drinks, and Read more…
Most licensees when facing license discipline are concerned about the direct and immediate consequences. In particular, when a physician faces an accusation by the Medical Board of California, their primary concern is their continued ability to practice. And that is completely reasonable and understandable. However, the lure of certainty in Read more…
Imagine that you are a licensed professional accused of misconduct by your underlying licensing agency, who now wishes to revoke your license. You retain counsel, attempt to negotiate a stipulated settlement, but the agency’s attorney just will not budge. So, you go to an administrative hearing, kick-butt, put on convincing evidence of rehabilitation and Read more…