SUSAN L. MARGOLIS graduated from Boalt Hall, Univ. of Calif., Berkeley.  Ms. Margolis’s law firm, Margolis & Margolis, specializes in the area of attorney ethics and professional responsibility.

After admission to the California Bar in 1982 and the Illinois Bar in 1983, Ms. Margolis practiced complex civil litigation with a law firm in Chicago, Illinois, before beginning work at the State Bar of California as a prosecutor from 1986 to 1990. During that time, she investigated and prosecuted attorneys in formal disciplinary proceedings at the trial level as well as before the State Bar's appellate court, the Review Department.  When she left the State Bar in October of 1990, she held the title of Senior Litigator.

After leaving the State Bar in 1990, Ms. Margolis joined Arthur Margolis (1941-2023)  in forming a law partnership, Margolis & Margolis LLP, whose work consisted entirely of defending attorneys in State Bar disciplinary proceedings and reinstatement proceedings, assisting applicants to the State Bar in admissions proceedings, and serving as a consultant and expert witness on issues of professional responsibility.   Ms. Margolis’ present law practice continues to encompass the same areas of expertise and experience. She remains committed to serving her firm’s clients with empathy, dedication, and professionalism.  

Ms. Margolis has served as an expert witness on professional responsibility in state court and has lectured frequently on issues of legal ethics and professional responsibility at law firms and bar associations, including numerous MCLE classes. She has been a consultant to the State Bar and Legislature on Bar-related legislation. She was co-author of the book,  "California Lawyer's Guide to Professional Responsibility," published by Shepard's McGraw-Hill, 1994-1996.  

ARTHUR LEWIS MARGOLIS

FOUNDER
(2/20/41 - 5/10/23)

ARTHUR L. MARGOLIS was the founding partner of Margolis & Margolis.  He was a premier specialist and scholar in the area of attorney ethics and professional responsibility. 

Mr. Margolis received his law degree from the University of San Francisco in June 1973, where he wrote for the law review and was a member of the McAuliffe honor society. 

After passing the Bar, he went to work for the State Bar of California in December 1973. He began work as an attorney with the Bar’s Office of General Counsel in San Francisco, where he prepared and submitted briefs filed in the California Supreme Court in State Bar admission and discipline cases on review. His briefs were persuasive and he was responsible for creating new case law.  In July 1976, he transferred to the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel, the professional prosecutorial staff of the State Bar, headquartered in Los Angeles.  Mr. Margolis quickly gained a reputation for fairness to attorneys being investigated and for his ability in trying cases.  He became a supervisor in the office as well as mentor to new and seasoned prosecutors learning the law of professional ethics.  Because of his skill, he was assigned matters of particular complexity and sensitivity.  He was also renowned for his insistence on prosecutorial ethics.  During the years he worked at the State Bar, Mr. Margolis had a profound effect on the evolution of procedural and substantive disciplinary law and he assisted in the formulation of legislation which significantly changed the California Business & Professions Code as to attorney discipline.

After leaving the State Bar in late 1986, Mr. Margolis opened his own law practice the following year, which he devoted exclusively to defending attorneys accused of misconduct in State Bar disciplinary proceedings and serving as an expert consultant and witness regarding issues of professional responsibility.  He was a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs.  From the very start of his own practice, Mr. Margolis never lacked for clients.  Even attorneys whom he formerly prosecuted sought him out to defend them in State Bar proceedings because of the high degree of integrity, fairness and objectivity he showed as a prosecutor.  His warmth, humor, and sharp wit were legendary and much appreciated by his clients.

In 1990, Susan Margolis joined his practice and they worked together as law partners until his passing in May 2023.