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If you feel that your lawyer has treated you or your case inappropriately, you can report him/her to the Bar Association for ethics violations. All lawyers are required to follow a certain code of conduct which guides their professional conduct. Although most attorneys adhere to these standards, a disciplinary counsel has been appointed by each state to investigate ethics violations. The advocate not only investigates consumer complaints but also takes appropriate action against the accused advocate.
Legitimate Reasons to Report the Attorney
Following are some of the valid reasons on the basis of which you can file your complaint:
1) Misrepresentation of your case in court
2) Dispute improper billing, missing funds, or other charges
3) Failure by the attorney to return your case documents
4) Lawyer’s failure to maintain your confidentiality
5) Misuse of your assets or personal details
6) conflicting interests
7) Violation of professional ethics by the lawyer
8) Failure to communicate properly
Bar reporting process
To report an attorney for ethics violations, you must file a complaint clearly stating a valid reason with the disciplinary attorney of the state in which your attorney is licensed. To register a complaint, you can choose one of the following options:
1) Write a detailed letter clearly mentioning the name of the lawyer, contact details, the case for which the lawyer was appointed, and the problem faced by you.
2) Fill all the required details in the common form provided by the Bar Association of the State.
3) Register your complaint through the hotline. However, this facility is available only in some states.
In all cases, you need to submit valid proofs and other documents along with your letter or form.
How is a complaint reviewed?
Once your complaint is registered, 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 concerned advocate along with a notice, requesting him to respond to the complaint within 10-25 days. After the attorney responds, you will be given a chance to comment on the response. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can request to open an investigation. If you are able to provide sufficient evidence to prove your claim, the case will remain open until resolved. However, if no evidence of ethics violations is found, your case may be dismissed by the board.
Thus, before reporting an advocate at the bar for ethical violations, it is better to review your own complaint and collect sufficient evidence to prove your claim.
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