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DC Bar Disciplinary Rules

(a) Availability of diversion. Subject to the limitations herein, diversion may be offered by Disciplinary Counsel to an attorney under investigation for a disciplinary violation.
(b) Limitations on diversion. Diversion shall be available in cases of alleged minor misconduct, but shall not be available where:

(1) the alleged misconduct resulted in prejudice to a client or another person;
(2) discipline previously has been imposed or diversion previously has been offered and accepted, unless Disciplinary Counsel finds the presence of exceptional circumstances justifying a waiver of this limitation;
(3) the alleged misconduct involves fraud, dishonesty, deceit, misappropriation or conversion of client funds or other things of value, or misrepresentation; or
(4) the alleged misconduct constitutes a criminal offense under applicable law, except for the offenses of driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle while impaired (or a similar conviction in another jurisdiction).

(c) Procedures for diversion. At the conclusion of an investigation, Disciplinary Counsel may, in Disciplinary Counsel's sole discretion, offer to an attorney being investigated for misconduct the option of entering a diversion program in lieu of other procedures available to Disciplinary Counsel. The attorney shall be free to accept or reject the offer of diversion. If the attorney accepts diversion, a written diversion agreement shall be entered into by both parties including, inter alia, the time of commencement and completion of the diversion program, the content of the program, and the criteria by which successful completion of the program will be measured. The diversion agreement shall state that it is subject to review by a member of the Board, to whom it shall be submitted for review and approval after execution by Disciplinary Counsel and the attorney.
(d) Content of diversion program. The diversion program shall be designed to remedy the alleged misconduct of the attorney. It may include participation in formal courses of education sponsored by the Bar, a law school, or another organization;completion of an individualized program of instruction specified in the agreement or supervised by another Bar entity; or any other arrangement agreed to by the parties which is designed to improve the ability of the attorney to practice in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
(e) Proceedings after completion or termination of diversion program. Except as provided in subsection (b)(2) of this section, if the attorney successfully completes a diversion program, Disciplinary Counsel's investigation shall be closed, and the attorney shall have no record of misconduct resulting therefrom. If the attorney does not successfully complete the diversion program, Disciplinary Counsel shall take such other action as is authorized and prescribed under section 8(b).

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