Report to the Lawyer to the Bar Association for Ethics Violation – Details of the Process Involved
If you think your lawyer has been unfair to you or your case, you can report him to the Bar Association for ethics violations. All lawyers are required to abide by a certain code of ethics that governs their professional conduct. Although most lawyers hold to these standards, each state has designated a Disciplinary Board to investigate ethics violations when they occur. The attorney not only investigates consumer complaints, but also takes appropriate action against the accused attorney.
Valid reasons to report a lawyer
The following are some valid reasons based on which you can file your complaint:
1) Misrepresentation of your case in court
2) Improper billing, insufficient funds or other rate disputes
3) Failure of the lawyer to return the documents of his case
4) Lawyer’s failure to maintain your confidentiality
5) Misuse of your property or personal data
6) Conflict of interest
7) Violation of professional ethics by the lawyer
8) Lack of proper communication
Bar Association Reporting Process
To report an ethics violation to an attorney, you must file a complaint, clearly stating a valid reason, with the Disciplinary Board of the state in which your attorney is licensed. To file a complaint, you can choose any of the following options:
1) Write a detailed letter, clearly stating the lawyer’s name, contact details, the case the lawyer was retained for, and a description of the problem you faced.
2) Complete all the data required in a general form made available by the State Bar Association.
3) File your complaint through the hotline. However, this facility is available only in some states.
In all cases, you will be required to submit valid proof and other documentation along with your letter or form.
How is the complaint reviewed?
Once your complaint is filed, it is reviewed by a board of lawyers and non-lawyers. If the complaint is found to be valid and justified, its copy is sent to the attorney in question along with a notice, requesting that he or she respond to the complaint within 10 to 25 days. After the attorney responds, you will be given an opportunity to comment on the response. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may request that an investigation be initiated. If you manage to provide enough evidence to prove your claim, the case will remain open until resolved. However, if no evidence of an ethics violation is found, the board may dismiss your case.
Therefore, before reporting an ethics violation to a lawyer to the Bar Association, it is best to review your own complaint and gather enough evidence to prove your claim.