According to its website, the State Bar of California and its Office of Chief Trial Counsel made clear today that it will aid in prosecution and will bring its strictest standards to bear against attorney participation in loan modification fraud.

“Attorney misconduct in connection with the provision of loan modification services is a significant and growing problem,” said Acting Chief Trial Counsel Russell Weiner. “It is unfortunate that any attorney would fail to adhere to the highest ethical standards in providing legal services to a vulnerable client possibly facing the loss of their home. We will aggressively investigate and vigorously prosecute these attorneys.”

Following an increasing number of complaints against attorneys involved in the loan modification business, the bar created a special team to deal only with those complaints. The team, made up of seasoned investigators and prosecutors, is currently investigating hundreds of current consumer complaints, has evidence there are many more and is intent on prosecuting attorneys who take advantage of distressed homeowners.