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(a) Definitions.

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Lawyer counseling committee" means a group of individuals that:

(i) is recognized by the Court of Appeals;

(ii) is a standing committee of the Maryland State Bar Association or of a local bar association;

(iii) consists of lawyers and other individuals necessary to carry out the functions of the committee; and

(iv) evaluates and helps a lawyer in need of treatment and rehabilitation for:

1. substance abuse; or

2. any other physical, emotional, or mental condition that adversely affects the ability of the lawyer to practice law in accordance with the rules adopted by the Court of Appeals.

(3) "Local bar association" means:

(i) in Baltimore City, the Bar Association of Baltimore City; or

(ii) in each county, the bar association with the greatest number of members who are residents of the county and who maintain their principal office for the practice of law in that county.

(b) Matters not discoverable or admissible.

(1) This subsection does not apply to a proceeding before the Attorney Grievance Commission or a disciplinary proceeding against a lawyer before a circuit court or the Court of Appeals.

(2) The proceedings, records, and files of a lawyer counseling committee are not admissible into evidence or discoverable in an action that arises out of a matter that the lawyer counseling committee is or has been reviewing.

(c) Immunity of committee members. - Notwithstanding any other law, a member of a lawyer counseling committee shall have the immunity from liability and may not be subject to any disciplinary proceeding as described in § 5-416 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article.

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