Not all states will disclose an attorney's disciplinary history, especially if it was private or didn't involve a hearing. In most states, you must write to the bar association and request a copy of the lawyer's disciplinary record. The attorney disciplinary summaries listed in this section are based on disciplinary orders, but are not official records. Official disciplinary information can be found in an attorney's profile and in the State Bar Court case search.
Copies of lawyers' official disciplinary records are available upon request. Search by last name, first name, identification number, city or county to find an attorney. The Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court collects and maintains a variety of information about all attorneys admitted to practice in the Commonwealth. Publicly accessible information for individual attorneys can be obtained using the “Find a Lawyer” function above. For those seeking data for large groups of lawyers, requests submitted in accordance with public data request procedures are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
You can also file a complaint against an attorney who is engaging in unethical behavior, such as charging excessive fees for services provided, failing to communicate effectively with clients, or neglecting your duties as legal counsel. Once all of the evidence has been collected and reviewed, a decision will be made as to whether disciplinary action should be taken against an attorney based on what was discovered during the investigation. It is important to note that filing a complaint does not guarantee results, but it does provide another avenue for people who feel harmed by lawyers and want justice to be done accordingly without having to take matters into their own hands outside the legal channels provided for in the respective laws of each jurisdiction that govern the codes and regulations of ethics of lawyers. Clients should always receive fair compensation for the services provided, but some attorneys may try to overcharge for their services or charge more than was initially agreed upon without informing the client beforehand. In some cases, attorneys may also have to pay fines or compensation to individuals affected by their actions before they are allowed to return to practice after serving their period (s) of suspension.
The disciplinary process begins when another lawyer or client files a complaint against an attorney. Anyone can file a complaint against an attorney if they believe that the lawyer has acted unethically or violated standards of professional conduct. When an attorney has been accused of misconduct, the state bar association will investigate the allegations to determine if they are true. The attorneys listed in the specific practice areas sections are not “specialists” or “experts” in any area of legal practice, unless they are specifically certified as such by an ABA-accredited organization authorized by their jurisdiction.
Elite Litigators is proud to maintain the most advanced directory of state prosecutor disciplinary agencies on the web. The American Bar Association (ABA) provides guidelines on ethical conduct for all lawyers, which must be followed so that they can maintain their license and practice law legally. For the most up-to-date information on an attorney's disciplinary history, contact the Bar Association's Attorney's Office. Once this step is completed, a hearing will be held in which both parties can present their arguments before a panel of judges appointed by the state bar association, who will finally make a decision on the type of disciplinary action to be taken against the lawyer in question, if any.
