In order to practice law in California, attorneys need to have a state license. Attorneys go to school for a long time and work hard to obtain their licenses and move ahead in their fields, so it can be devastating personally and professionally when someone loses their license to practice law.
Here are some things that can cause an attorney to lose their license.
Committing perjury
Attorneys are advocates for their clients and want to characterize their clients in as outstanding of a light as possible. However, they should never do this by making false statements in a court of law. For example, a lawyer cannot deny evidence that demonstrates guilt as long as they have knowledge of that evidence.
Having a romantic relationship with a client
Like with those who work in the medical field, it is unethical for those in the legal field to maintain a romantic or sexual relationship with someone who is currently their client. This goes against professional standards and can result in an attorney losing their license.
Not showing up for court
Lawyers need to be there for their clients and represent them in court, as this is part of what the client pays them to do. Unless they have a good reason not to do so, a lawyer who does not show up for court is essentially not doing their job, and there are disciplinary consequences.
In order to stay afloat in their careers, anyone who practices law should be aware of the things that can cause them to lose their license.