Lawyer discipline systems

“Not getting any better,” in the opinion of HALT, the consumer-protection group that looks out for the interests of legal clients. The group has issued a report card rating each of the 50 state lawyer grievance systems, updating a similar effort four years ago. Worst state: Utah. Worst big state: California, ranked #46. Best state: […]

“Not getting any better,” in the opinion of HALT, the consumer-protection group that looks out for the interests of legal clients. The group has issued a report card rating each of the 50 state lawyer grievance systems, updating a similar effort four years ago. Worst state: Utah. Worst big state: California, ranked #46. Best state: Connecticut. Best big state: Pennsylvania (yes, really). (David Giacalone, Mar. 8).

One Comment

  • I’m posting this comment for a reader who was unable to post it during our recent site outage:

    I fully agree with the “D” rating for New York state. I filed a grievance for unprofessional behavior against a Manhattan IP lawyer about five years ago. The official response was not only a boilerplate letter, the signature itself was a rubberstamp. I still wonder if any of my complaint was actually read.

    When the dispute later went to court, the lawyer’s colleagues bailed out just before the judge would have ruled on concurrent motions for summary judgment. Winning is always the best way to settle a grievance.

    — Mike Perry, Untangling Tolkien