常见问题

的 Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) was created by the District of Columbia 上诉法院 to investigate and prosecute complaints of ethical misconduct against lawyers licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia who violate the D.C. 规则 of Professional Conduct (RPC).

的 规则 describe a lawyer’s obligation to clients, 法院, and the general public in professional and private dealings. 的 purpose of this process is to protect the public by disciplining lawyers who violate the ethics rules. Our office cannot consider complaints against judges acting in a judicial capacity.

For additional information, see 宗旨及使命.
 

的 Office of Disciplinary Counsel cannot represent you, give you any legal advice, or change the outcome of a court decision.

的 Office of Disciplinary Counsel cannot refer you to an attorney. 你可以咨询D.C. 酒吧公益中心 to obtain information about legal representation by calling their Legal Information Help Line at 202-626-3499.

免费法律帮助 

联系 D.C. 酒吧公益中心 if you are an individual living in poverty who is at risk of losing your home, 你的生活, 或者你的家人. 中心也提供帮助 small businesses and community-based nonprofits needing legal assistance.

Try to resolve issues with your attorney by communicating your concerns clearly and asking for a response.  Your attorney should clearly explain the fee agreement and scope of representation, keep you aware of developments in your case, and respond to any reasonable requests you may have for information.

If you feel that your problem is the result of poor communication or a misunderstanding between you and the attorney, you should have an open talk with the attorney before you file a complaint.
 

D.C. 酒吧的 寻找会员 feature provides the same publicly available contact information for attorneys that we would be able to share with you.  If you are still unable to reach your attorney, you may need to file a complaint with our office.

D.C. 酒吧的 寻找会员 feature enables a search of all attorneys licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.  If an attorney is not listed as authorized to practice law and is advising you about D.C. law or representing you in Superior Court, please contact the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

No.

If we determine that your complaint should be docketed for investigation because it alleges facts that, 如果这是真的, would violate the 规则 of Professional Conduct, your complaint will be forwarded to the attorney for a response.

If you believe your attorney has violated the D.C. 规则 of Professional Conduct, you should file a written complaint or complete and submit the 投诉表格 (signed and dated) to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel via mail or fax. 的 form must be properly completed. Along with the 投诉表格, please submit relevant documents and information, including:

• Copies of fee or retainer agreements or statements;
• 信件副本, 传真, 电子邮件, and other correspondence that relates to the subject of the complaint;
• Copies of legal documents in your possession;
• Copies of filings or statements received by you from the attorney; and
• Copies of canceled checks or evidence of any payments made by you to the attorney.

If you do not provide facts and documentation that support your complaint, it may result in either a request for additional information or a dismissal of the complaint.

You do not need to identify any rules you believe that the attorney has violated.  在一般情况下, the 规则 of Professional Conduct ensure that attorneys provide competent representation, protect the interests of their clients, 法相当, 并且诚实.

DO NOT SEND US ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SAFEKEEPING OR RETURN TO YOU.

*的 Office of Disciplinary Counsel does not represent you against the attorney or in any ongoing case involving that attorney.

A complaint should contain all information allowing Disciplinary Counsel to understand the problem.  This should include your contact information, the attorney’s contact information, case numbers of underlying court cases, and a description of the problem you are having with the attorney.  包括日期, the nature of the legal matter, and specific information about what you think the attorney did wrong.  Provide as much facts and supporting documents as possible, including the fee agreement, 法庭文件, and letters or notes that you would like us to consider. 发送副本. DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

Your complaint will be reviewed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel to ensure that it falls within the jurisdiction of the office and evaluated to determine if there are issues that form the basis of a disciplinary investigation. If the complaint falls within the office’s jurisdiction, it will be assigned to an attorney to conduct a preliminary inquiry or a disciplinary investigation. 的 assigned attorney will notify you if they are conducting a preliminary inquiry or if they are undertaking a confidential investigation of your complaint. You will be contacted if additional information is needed.

After the preliminary inquiry or disciplinary investigation is completed, you will receive by mail official notification of the disposition of your complaint. 的 complaint may be resolved through a review process, which includes one of the following:

• Dismissal of the complaint;
• Impose private discipline (diversion agreement);
• Impose public discipline (informal admonition);
• File formal disciplinary charges against the attorney. When charges are formally filed by petition, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel has the responsibility for prosecuting the charges before a hearing committee, the 董事会 on Professional Responsibility, 最后是D.C. 上诉法院. 的 charging document and the attorney response are public and will be posted on the D.C. 酒吧的网站. If the discipline includes suspension or disbarment, it must be review and approved by the D.C. 上诉法院. All public discipline is posted on the D.C. 酒吧的网站.

No.  You may let us know if you are satisfied with any remedial actions taken by your attorney, but Disciplinary Counsel is still obligated to investigate your complaint.

是的.  We may reach out to you for further information, and you will be notified of the outcome of our investigation.

Any of the following sanctions may be imposed on an attorney for a disciplinary violation:

1. 取消澳门赌场官网资格 of the attorney from the practice of law. 的 attorney is prohibited from practicing law for at least five years and must petition for reinstatement to the bar and prove fitness to resume the practice of law.
2. 悬架 for an appropriate fixed period of time not to exceed three years. 的 length of time depends on the nature of the misconduct. Any order of suspension may include a requirement that the attorney provide proof of rehabilitation as a condition of reinstatement. In the absence of such a requirement, the attorney may resume practice at the end of the period of suspension.
3. 谴责. 的 attorney permitted to continue practicing law is publicly censured for misconduct but is permitted to continue practicing law.
4. 谴责. 的 attorney is publicly reprimanded for misconduct but is permitted to continue practicing law.
5. 非正式的警告. 的 attorney is written a letter of admonition by the Disciplinary Counsel for misconduct but permitted to continue practicing law.
6. 撤销或中止 of a license to practice as a Special Legal Consultant.
7. 缓刑. 的 Court imposes conditions that are related to the misconduct for not more than three years. 缓刑 may be imposed in lieu of or in addition to any other disciplinary sanction. Any conditions of probation shall be stated in writing in the order imposing probation. 的 order shall also state whether, 到什么程度, the attorney shall be required to notify clients of the probation. 的 董事会 by rule shall establish procedures for the supervision of probation. Violation of any condition of probation shall make the attorney subject to revocation of probation and the imposition of any other disciplinary sanction listed in this subsection, but only to the extent stated in the order imposing probation.

You can look to see whether your attorney has been 有纪律的.  Disciplinary Counsel is not permitted to disclose whether complaints were filed against an attorney unless they result in public discipline.

No.  It may be more difficult to investigate a complaint after significant time has passed, but there is no statute of limitations for filing a complaint with Disciplinary Counsel.

Disciplinary Counsel has the authority to investigate complaints against attorneys.  If we believe an attorney has violated their obligations under the 规则 of Professional Conduct, we can seek to discipline the attorney.

Disciplinary Counsel cannot:

• Represent you in any proceeding
• 给你法律建议 
• 推荐澳门赌场官网
• Stop other legal proceedings
• 收回的钱
• Force an attorney to do something

是的.  All complaints need to be in writing, but if you have a question about the process or whether you should file a complaint, please call us at 202-638-1501.

If you are unhappy about a legal fee, in addition to contacting our office you may file a fee dispute with the D.C. 酒吧的 Attorney/Client Arbitration 董事会.  If you have lost funds due to an attorney’s dishonest conduct, you may be able to seek reimbursement from the D.C. 酒吧的 客户保障基金.

You can contact similar offices in 其他司法管辖区.

Disciplinary Counsel may not publicly disclose that the complaint has been filed. 的 D.C. 规则 of Professional Conduct requires the Disciplinary Counsel to treat complaints as confidential matters until the attorney has been served with a petition instituting formal charges or has agreed to be formally 有纪律的.