If you have an issue with your lawyer that you believe should be investigated, you may want to consider filing a complaint. The bar association in each state regulates attorneys and their conduct, and most have a formal complaint form on their website.
You should never make a complaint about a lawyer if you are able to resolve your issues with him or her informally, or if you have done everything else possible to solve the problem. You should also consult with another attorney to discuss your legal rights, including the potential to file a malpractice lawsuit against the lawyer about whom you have filed a complaint.
Not every disagreement you have with a lawyer involves a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which are governed by each state’s bar association and each state’s Supreme Court. However, you should not hesitate to report a problem to the bar if your concerns are serious or you believe that the lawyer violated ethics laws.
Complaints about a lawyer’s fee are usually filed to the bar association in the state where the attorney is licensed, and most have a disciplinary program that helps resolve fee disputes between clients and lawyers. But these agencies are often slow to move and tend to communicate poorly with people who complain.
Disciplinary action against lawyers is based on the severity of a violation, and ranges from private reproval to disbarment. The length of suspensions, public reprimands and other disciplinary actions may vary by state.
If the violations are minor, prosecutors may choose to issue a private reprimand or a probationary license. For more egregious violations, prosecutors may choose to impose a suspension or disbarment.
A reprimand can be written and placed in the lawyer’s permanent record or it can be published in the newspaper or State Bar magazine. A suspension is the most severe disciplinary action, and it can last for years before an attorney can petition to have his or her license reinstated. Recommended this site dc personal injury lawyer .
The VSB’s disciplinary process is designed to address ethical conduct that occurs in the context of the attorney-client relationship. It is not a place to review complaints against public figures, such as mayors, city council members and judges who are involved in governmental affairs.
You should not file a complaint about a lawyer who is performing work for you as a guardian ad litem or a Commissioner in Chancery unless you have direct knowledge of the case. If you have a complaint about a lawyer who is acting for you in a civil matter, such as a divorce, you should try to resolve the issue with him or her before filing a complaint.
If you do file a complaint about a lawyer, be sure to explain your situation in detail and provide any relevant documentation that you have. You should not send original documents to the VSB, only copies.
If you do file a complaint, the VSB’s staff will investigate your concern and determine if the lawyer’s conduct violated ethical standards. If so, the VSB will discipline the lawyer in accordance with its Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct. The VSB will inform you of the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent disciplinary action. The VSB is committed to maintaining high ethical standards in the legal profession and wants to protect the public’s trust in the justice system.
