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(a) Filing. Upon completion of an investigation, Bar Counsel shall file with the Commission a Statement of Charges if Bar Counsel determines that:

(1) the attorney engaged in conduct constituting professional misconduct or is incapacitated; and

(2) the professional misconduct or incapacity does not warrant an immediate Petition for Disciplinary or Remedial Action.

(b) Content. The Statement of Charges shall be in writing and:

(1) in clear and specific language, inform the attorney of all professional misconduct charged;

(2) contain a reference to each Rule of the Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct allegedly violated; and

(3) include or be accompanied by documentation and information, including any response that the attorney sent to Bar Counsel regarding the matter and any exculpatory material.

(c) Service; Peer Review.

(1) Bar Counsel shall serve a copy of the Statement of Charges, together with the documentation and information filed pursuant to section (b) of this Rule, on the attorney in the manner prescribed by Rule 2-121 (a). If, after reasonable efforts, the attorney cannot be served personally, service may be made by e-mail to all e-mail addresses maintained by the attorney with the Attorney Information System in accordance with Rule 19-802.

(2) Bar Counsel shall send to the Chair of the Peer Review Committee a copy of the Statement of Charges, together with the supporting information and documentation filed pursuant to section (b) of this Rule. The matter shall then proceed in accordance with Rules 19-719 and 19-720.

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