People v. Anselm Andrew Efe. 14PDJ052. June 30, 2014. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ conditional admission of misconduct and suspended Anselm Andrew Efe (Attorney Registration Number 38357) for one year and one day, all but six months stayed upon a three-year period of probation, with conditions. The probation takes effect August 4, 2014.
Efe is a native and citizen of Nigeria. On September 19, 2011, Efe’s work authorization visa expired. From October 2011 through May 2013, Efe entered his appearance in Denver Immigration Court in four separate cases as the attorney of record. During the same time period, Efe represented other clients and accepted legal fees for his services, even though he did not have authorization to work in the United States. Efe did not inform his clients that he was unable to represent them. Efe applied for work authorization in December 2013, but he is without legal status at this time.
Efe’s conduct violated Colo. RPC 1.4(a)(5) (a lawyer shall consult with the client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct when the lawyer knows that the client expects assistance not permitted by the rules); 8.4(c) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation); and 8.4(d) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice).