LOS ANGELES — Woodland Hills attorney Jill Bobbette Shigut received one year of probation from the State Bar Court of California for failure to meet her required Minimum Continuing Legal Education hours.
The probation began Nov. 25, according to the State Bar of California website.
Court documents stated that Shigut, under penalty of perjury, claimed on June 30, 2014, that she had completed the necessary 25 hours during the compliance period that went from Feb. 1, 2011, to Jan. 31, 2014. Shigut did not provide documentation for the hours.
The attorney was notified that she would undergo an MCLE audit on July 7, 2014, at which point she completed the remaining 19 hours needed. By Oct. 31, 2014, Shigut was up to date on all of her MCLE requirements.
Several mitigating factors went into consideration in the decision to place Shigut on probation. In the attorney’s career, she had no prior record of discipline and was able to provide seven witnesses to attest to her good character. The witnesses varied from former clients to friends who knew about Shigut’s misconduct but still were willing to speak to her good character.
Shigut also provided the State Bar with proof of her pro bono efforts. Between 2010 and 2014, she provided free legal services in three separate matters. According to court documents, the matters in which she represented clients on a pro bono basis included a divorce proceeding, a termination of contract for employment with a non-competition clause, and possible litigation in the aftermath of a car accident.
Finally, Shigut entered into a pre-filing stipulation with the State Bar, saving the courts time and resources. By acknowledging her misconduct, the attorney garnered mitigation.
During the attorney’s one-year probation, Shigut will be required to provide quarterly reports for all of her business dealings to the Office of Probation. In addition, any updates to her personal or professional situations will also need to be provided to the office within 10 business days.
Shigut must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. Failure to pass the MPRE or adhere to any of the terms of her probation will result in a one-year suspension without hearing. The attorney will be responsible for covering all court costs, which at the time of sentencing totaled $3,139. The costs are subject to increase, in which case Shigut will need to pay the additional fees.
According to her State Bar website profile, Shigut, 48, was admitted to the State Bar in 1995 after graduating from the University of La Verne College of Law.
The State Bar of California was established in 1927 by the legislature and is governed by 19 trustees. In 1989, the State Bar Court added full-time judges who are appointed by the state Supreme Court.
Court documents for all State Bar Court of California cases can be found at calbar.ca.gov.