LOS ANGELES — Alexandra R. Epand, a Charlottesville, N.C. attorney who was licensed to practice law in California, was recently disbarred by the State Bar Court of California for allegedly illegally practicing law in North Carolina, where she was not licensed, and collecting fees.
The decision was handed down on Feb. 10.
According to court documents, attorney was hired to represent a client in “the defense of an action for breach of a promissory note,” and accepted $2,500 in fees despite her not being a member of the North Carolina State Bar.
The attorney was served a notice of disciplinary charges (NDC) by the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) on Feb. 24, 2015. A status conference was held June 22, 2015, but Epand did not attend. A trial was set for Aug. 4, 2015, and the attorney was notified. Epand also failed to appear at the trial, forcing the OCTC to file a petition for disbarment with a default entry Oct. 2, 2015. Three days later, Epand requested the default be set aside, but the OCTC opposed the request.
After further motions and responses to motions were filed, a new trial was set for Feb. 22, 2016, but Epand again failed to appear. The OCTC filed another petition for disbarment June 7, 2016. The attorney had 45 days to respond to the petition but did not do so. Disbarment was ordered, and Epand ruled ineligible to practice law.
Epand was admitted to the California State Bar in 1997 upon graduating from the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu. She had no prior record of discipline.