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In this Chapter, the following definitions apply, except as expressly otherwise provided or as necessary implication requires:

(a) Approved Financial Institution. “Approved financial institution” means a financial institution approved by the Commission in accordance with these Rules.

(b) Attorney. “Attorney” means any individual admitted by the Court of Appeals to practice law.

(c) Attorney Trust Account. “Attorney trust account” means an account, including an escrow account, maintained in a financial institution for the deposit of funds received or held by an attorney or law firm on behalf of a client or third person.

(d) Bar Counsel. “Bar Counsel” means the individual appointed by the Commission as the principal executive officer of the disciplinary system affecting attorneys. All duties of Bar Counsel prescribed by these Rules shall be subject to the supervision and procedural guidelines of the Commission.

(e) Client. “Client” includes any individual, firm, or entity for which an attorney performs any legal service, including acting as an escrow agent or as a legal representative of a fiduciary. The term does not include a public or private entity of which an attorney is a full-time employee.

(f) Commission. “Commission” means the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland, as authorized and created by Rule 19-702.

(g) Financial Institution. “Financial institution” means a bank, credit union, trust company, savings bank, or savings and loan association authorized by law to do business in this State, in the District of Columbia, or in a state contiguous to this State, the accounts of which are insured by an agency or instrumentality of the United States.

(h) IOLTA. “IOLTA” (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) means interest on attorney trust accounts payable to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund under Code, Business Occupations and Professions Article, § 10-303.

(i) Law Firm. “Law firm” includes a partnership of attorneys, a professional or nonprofit corporation of attorneys, and a combination thereof engaged in the practice of law. In the case of a law firm with offices in this State and in other jurisdictions, the Rules in this Chapter apply only to the offices in this State.

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