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(a) Definitions.

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

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency that is listed in § 3-101(e) of the Public Safety Article.

(3) "Motor vehicle accident" has the meaning stated in § 27-401 of the Insurance Article.

(4) "Report" means a report completed by a police officer of a law enforcement agency that:

(i) indicates that a motor vehicle accident occurred; and

(ii) includes information about a person involved in the motor vehicle accident, including the person's name, telephone number, and address.

(b) In general. - Without an existing relationship or interest in an issue:

(1) a person may not, for personal gain, solicit another person to sue or to retain a lawyer to represent the other person in a lawsuit;

(2) a person who is not a lawyer may not, for personal gain, access a report for the purpose of soliciting another person to sue or to retain a lawyer to represent the other person; and

(3) a lawyer, except as provided in the Rules of Professional Conduct, may not:

(i) for personal gain, solicit another person to sue or to retain the lawyer to represent the person in a lawsuit;

(ii) directly or indirectly employ or in any way compensate or agree to employ or compensate any person as an expert witness or otherwise for the purpose of having that person solicit or attempt to solicit clients for the lawyer;

(iii) knowingly represent a person who retained the lawyer as a result of solicitation prohibited under this section; or

(iv) cause a case to be instituted without the authority of a client.

(c) Presumption of compensation. - Any solicitation involving acts described in this section is prima facie evidence that the person soliciting is acting for gain.

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