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DC Bar Disciplinary Rules

(a) Powers and duties. The Executive Attorney shall have the power and duty:

(1) To employ and supervise such staff as may be necessary for the performance of the Executive Attorney's duties, subject to budget limitations established by the Board.
(2) To assign, periodically and on a rotating basis, an attorney member of a Hearing Committee as a Contact Member to review and approve or suggest modifications of recommendations by Disciplinary Counsel for dismissals, informal admonitions, and the institution of formal charges.
(3) To assign formal charges, a petition for negotiated disposition, and a contested petition for reinstatement to a Hearing Committee.
(4) To maintain records of proceedings before Hearing Committees, the Board, and the Court.
(5) To forward to the Court the findings and recommendations of the Board on formal charges of misconduct together with the record of proceedings before the Hearing Committee and the Board.
(6) To forward to the Court the Hearing Committee's recommendation to approve a negotiated disposition and its recommendation in a contested reinstatement, together with the record of proceedings before the Hearing Committee.
(7) To assist the Board in the performance of its duties as the Board from time to time may direct.
(8) To act as Special Disciplinary Counsel when appointed by the Board.
(9) To act as legal advisor to the Board.
(10) To represent the Board in any court proceeding when designated by the Board to do so.
(11) To argue before this Court the position of the Board, when designated by the Board to do so, in any case in which Disciplinary Counsel disagrees with a report and recommendation of the Board.

(b) Review by the Board. Because the Executive Attorney is exercising the delegated authority of the Board, any decision or action by the Executive Attorney shall be subject to review by the Board in its discretion.
(c) Prohibition of private practice. The Executive Attorney shall not engage in the private practice of law, except that the Board may authorize a reasonable period of transition after appointment.

Attorney Grievance defense attorney specializes in defending lawyers in disciplinary proceedings before the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission and the D.C. Bar's Board on Professional Responsibility involving professional misconduct, legal ethics, disbarment, suspensions of law licenses, petitions for disciplinary action, reprimands and sanctions for unethical conduct. If you receive a letter from Bar Counsel Lydia Lawless, Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton Fox, or from any attorney disciplinary board in Maryland or the District of Columbia, retain experienced attorneys with expertise in lawyer discipline and breach of ethics cases to avoid sanctions for professional misconduct. We help lawyers avoid disbarment, suspension, reprimands, censure and informal admonitions by drafting responses to client grievances and ethical complaints; representing lawyers in peer reviews, evidentiary hearings, and oral arguments before the BPR and the Court of Appeals; filing petitions to reinstate an attorney's license to practice law; conducting law firm ethical compliance audits; and drafting legal ethics opinions to protect lawyers from ethics charges. In many cases, disciplinary proceedings may be dismissed, dismissed with a warning, or result in a conditional diversion agreement with Bar Counsel to rectify misconduct. Lawyers may need help in managing their law firm attorney escrow IOLTA trust account and complying with attorney trust accounting rules to avoid charges of ethical misconduct. Do not represent yourself in responding to an attorney grievance, law firm client complaint, or other allegation of ethical impropriety. Attorney grievance defense counsel may help you comply with legal ethics rules, avoid sanctions like suspension or disbarment, and avoid future attorney grievances.

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By The Lawyer's Lawyers | Kramer & Connolly and Irwin R. Kramer who are responsible for the content of this informational website.   This website is designed for lawyers faced with attorney grievances. As cases do differ, past performance does not guarantee future results.
 

NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND
OR THE BOARD ON PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE D.C. BAR