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Steven Zhu (WSBA No. 23381, admitted 1993), of Seattle, has received two reprimands, based on a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board on January 12, 2000. The discipline is based upon his failure to competently represent one client and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in another matter.
Matter 1: Mr. Zhu represented a Chinese citizen in an immigration matter. The client was in the United States under a student classification and wanted to obtain residency status, to look for full-time employment. Mr. Zhu advised his client that working full-time would not jeopardize his student status. Based on this advice, the client quit school and accepted a full-time job. Immigration law does not permit students to work full-time.
Mr. Zhu filed a petition with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for the client to be granted classification as a temporary worker in a specialty occupation. The INS notified Mr. Zhu that the petition was incomplete and that the required additional documentation must pre-date the petition. Although the INS suggested that Mr. Zhu file a new petition, he submitted the additional documentation without filing a new petition. The INS denied the petition.
Mr. Zhu’s conduct violated RPC 1.1, requiring a lawyer to possess the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation necessary to competently represent a client.
Matter 2: Mr. Zhu assisted a Chinese citizen in his proceeding to obtain permanent resident status in Canada. The client also retained a Canadian lawyer. Mr. Zhu prepared an employment certificate to be signed by the client’s former employer in China. Mr. Zhu signed the employment certificate himself, based on the client’s representation that the former employer had authorized his name to be signed on the certificate. Mr. Zhu did not indicate on the certificate that he had signed the employer’s name. Although Mr. Zhu asked the client to request that the employer verify the signature directly with Mr. Zhu, this did not happen. Mr. Zhu submitted the certificate to the Canadian lawyer without telling him that it was not the employer’s signature.
Mr. Zhu’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(d), prohibiting conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Randy Beitel represented the Bar Association. Kurt Bulmer represented Mr. Zhu.
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