can a lawyer reveal who filed a complaint against me

Yes, your personal injury lawyer has an obligation to keep their client’s information private and confidential unless the client gives them permission to disclose the information in question. Communications between you and your attorney are supposed to be confidential as well and not revealed without the client’s permission.

Full Answer

What happens when you file a complaint against a lawyer?

In most cases, a board of lawyers and non-lawyers will review the complaint. If there’s a potential ethical violation, the board will give the lawyer a copy of the complaint and an opportunity to respond.

How do you review a lawyer's complaints?

Each state has a different organization that reviews complaints against lawyers. In many states, a division of the courts handles these complaints. This is typically referred to as the disciplinary board. Some states rely on their state bar associations to discipline their attorneys.

Can my employer find out who filed a complaint against me?

If a particular state does not have statutes regarding whether employers can find out who filed a complaint against them, the employer is presumed to have the right to do so.

Can a judge file a complaint against an attorney for improper behavior?

However, other attorneys and even judges sometimes file complaints against attorneys for improper behavior. In most cases, a board of lawyers and non-lawyers will review the complaint. If there’s a potential ethical violation, the board will give the lawyer a copy of the complaint and an opportunity to respond.

Are client names confidential?

"In most situations, the identity of a client is not considered confidential and in such circumstances Attorney may disclose the fact of the representation to Prospective Client without Witness Client's consent." Citing to Los Angeles County Bar Association Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee Op.

What is the difference between attorney-client privilege and confidentiality?

Very simply put, attorney-client privilege stems from rules of EVIDENCE, whereas confidentiality stems from rules of ETHICS. But that's not all. Starting with confidentiality, every state has Rules of Professional Conduct that apply to lawyers who are licensed in that state.

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

Which of the following are the exceptions to the rule of client confidentiality?

Mandatory Exceptions To Confidentiality They include reporting child, elder and dependent adult abuse, and the so-called "duty to protect." However, there are other, lesserknown exceptions also required by law.

When can a lawyer disclose confidential information?

Section 126 of the Act prohibits an attorney from disclosing attorney-client communications, without the express consent of the client. Therefore, the client may release the attorney from his or her obligation to maintain secrecy. However, in the absence of express consent, the attorney has a duty to maintain secrecy.

What type of information Cannot be kept confidential by the attorney-client privilege?

The duty of confidentiality prevents lawyers from even informally discussing information related to their clients' cases with others. They must ordinarily keep private almost all information related to representation of the client, even if that information didn't come from the client.

Can I sue a lawyer for lying?

No matter what name the agency in your state goes by, they will have a process you can use to file a complaint against your attorney for lying or being incompetent. Examples of these types of behavior include: Misusing your money. Failing to show up at a court hearing.

How do I know if my lawyer is cheating on a settlement?

Dennis BeaverThe attorney does not return phone calls in a reasonable amount of time, and;In a meeting with the client, if the lawyer is being very short, taking phone calls, trying to re-schedule, not giving enough time to the client, does not listen, ignores what is asked or is not answering questions.

What is it called when a lawyer doesn't do his job?

Legal malpractice is a type of negligence in which a lawyer does harm to his or her client. Typically, this concerns lawyers acting in their own interests, lawyers breaching their contract with the client, and, one of the most common cases of legal malpractice, is when lawyers fail to act on time for clients.

What are the 3 reasons to break confidentiality?

Breaching Confidentiality.Confidentiality can be broken for the following reasons:Threat to Self.Threat to Others.Suspicion of Abuse.Duty to Warn.

Can you sue someone for disclosing personal information?

This happens in many commercial and professional situations, especially when you're dealing with trade secrets. If you have given someone confidential information and they've passed it on to someone else without your permission, you can sue for breach of confidentiality – and secure compensation.

Can a lawyer report you to the police?

The answer is yes. A lawyer can report you to the police. A lawyer can tell the police that you probably committed a crime.

Christine C McCall

After you file your complaint with the State Bar of California, a State Bar investigator will typically send a letter to the attorney setting forth your accusations and ask the attorney to provide a written response within a certain number of days. The State Bar will just close the file if there does not appear to be any ethical...

Frank Wei-Hong Chen

The attorney will respond in writing and the state bar will then decide if the facts warrant punishment.

Kevin Samuel Sullivan

The attorney will have to answer the complaint in writing. If the attorney fails to respond he or she will be suspended. If the attorney responds, the committee will review the complaint and response. The Committee may decide to close the file if the complaint seems to lack merit or if they are satisfied with the lawyer's response.

What to do if you are considering filing a complaint against your employer?

What to Do. Seek legal counsel if you are considering filing a complaint against your employer. A lawyer can tell you whether your complaint has enough merit to proceed and whether you should file a complaint with a state agency or file a lawsuit. In addition, your attorney can help you take action to protect yourself against retaliation ...

What are the laws against retaliation?

Anti-retalitation Laws. Many states have laws against retaliation. If an employer finds out that an employee made a complaint against him, the employer is legally prohibited from firing the employee or otherwise retaliating against him. For example, an employer cannot refuse to promote an employee or take disciplinary action against her ...

Do employees have the right to know who filed a complaint against them?

Do Employees Legally Have the Right to Know Who Filed a Complaint Against Them? Federal and state laws grant employees rights such as minimum wage, overtime pay and freedom from discrimination and harassment. If an employer or fellow employee interferes with an employee's rights, that employee has a right to complain.

Can an employer refuse to promote an employee?

For example, an employer cannot refuse to promote an employee or take disciplinary action against her because she filed a complaint against him with a government agency or other agency in authority over the employer.

Is OSHA an anonymous complaint?

Nonanonymous Complaints. Many types of complaints do not allow anonymity. For example, the Office of Safety and Hazard Administration, or OSHA, requires employees to sign written complaints about safety conditions at the workplace. OSHA keeps complaints confidential, however, even though it does not allow anonymity.

Can an employee lose their job if they file a complaint?

State laws and agency policy dictate whether complaints are confidential; however, employees cannot lose their jobs in retaliation for filing a complaint.

What happens if a complaint is found to be true?

If the complaint is found to be true, the disciplinary board can fine the attorney, force the attorney to attend classes or perform community service, or take away the attorney's license. The disciplinary board typically does not give the person who complained about the attorney any money.

What is the name of the board that handles complaints against lawyers?

In many states, a division of the courts handles these complaints. This is typically referred to as the disciplinary board . Some states rely on their state bar associations to discipline their attorneys.

What is disciplinary action for an attorney?

For attorneys, a disciplinary action is very serious as it can directly affect their ability to earn a living. It may be best to first try and resolve any dispute you have with the attorney on your own.

Do lawyers make mistakes?

Most lawyers do their most to provide the best representation possible. However, every so often lawyers do not act properly or make serious mistakes, and in those cases their clients can file a complaint with the entity responsible for overseeing the practice of law in their state.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

In most states, you can file your complaint by mailing in a state-issued complaint form or a letter with the lawyer's name and contact information, your contact information, a description of the problem, and copies of relevant documents. In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online.

What happens if you don't report a violation of the law?

If there's no evidence of a violation, the board will dismiss the case and notify you. If the violation is minor, a phone call or letter to the lawyer usually ends the matter.

What happens if a client fires a lawyer?

When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In some states, such as California, the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on.

What is the role of a disciplinary board in a state?

State Disciplinary Boards. Each state has a disciplinary board that enforces state ethics rules for lawyers. The board is usually an arm of the state’s supreme court and has authority to interpret ethics rules, investigate potential violations, conduct evidentiary hearings, and administer attorney discipline.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers are given a lot of responsibility and often deal with serious matters, from criminal charges to child custody to tax and other financial matters. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting him or her to represent your interests in the best manner possible. To protect the public—and the integrity of the legal profession—each state has its own code of ethics that lawyers must follow. These are usually called the “rules of professional conduct.”

What is incompetence in a lawyer?

Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on. They must also be sufficiently prepared to handle matters that come up in your case, from settlement negotiations to trial. Conflicts of interest.

What is a public reprimand?

issue a private reprimand (usually a letter sent to the lawyer) issue a public reprimand (usually published in the agency’s official reports and a local legal journal or newspaper ) suspend the lawyer (the lawyer cannot practice law for a specific time) disbar the lawyer (the lawyer loses his or her license to practice law), and/or.

What to do if you are unsure about an attorney?

If you are unsure whether your concerns with an attorney involve professional misconduct, in most states you can call or email the disciplinary office and discuss the matter prior to submitting a written complaint. Contact information for attorney regulatory authorities, by jurisdiction:

What are some examples of attorney practices that violate the Rules?

Some examples of attorney practices that violates the Rules include: Failure to provide an accounting of your money or property held by the attorney. Commingling your funds with the attorney's own money. Refusing to return your file at the conclusion of the representation.

What are some examples of attorney misconduct?

Some examples of attorney practices that violates the Rules include: Serious neglect of your case. Failure to provide an accounting of your money ...

What is the best way to investigate employee complaints?

HR staff responsible for investigating employee complaints follow general investigative principles and best practices. A likely approach is to develop an investigative plan based on the investigator's own analytical and critical-thinking skills. This a far better investigative approach than, say, relying solely on the accuser's written statement to formulate questions to pose to the accused or to witnesses. Plus, the accuser's written statement becomes a part of the investigative file, which is off-limits to practically everyone in the company except the investigator, HR manager or director and the company's legal counsel.

What happens if a workplace complaint is not resolved?

If the workplace complaint can't be resolved in-house, the accuser might choose to file a formal complaint or litigation against the employer. Depending on who the HR investigator is, whether she's on the HR staff, in-house legal counsel or an outside consultant, it could determine if the internal investigative notes are protected under the attorney-client or work-product privilege. In some cases, employers must produce all of the documents and statements generated during an investigation of a workplace issue. If the documents aren't privileged, you may be able to review the employer's documents produced during the discovery phase of the lawsuit.

What documentation can you see in an investigation?

During an investigation, the only written documentation that you might be allowed to see is documentary evidence. HR investigators and lawyers use documentary evidence to establish whether, for instance, you created or wrote something the accuser found offensive.

What happens if you don't have privileged documents?

If the documents aren't privileged, you may be able to review the employer's documents produced during the discovery phase of the lawsuit. Ruth Mayhew has been writing since the mid-1980s, and she has been an HR subject matter expert since 1995.

Can an employer reveal a complaint?

Many employers don't reveal to the accused the written statement or accusations that form the basis for a workplace complaint. Therefore, you have few, if any, rights to read what your accuser has written or said about you. Key to any workplace investigation is managing supporting documentation and limiting access to it, ...

Can an investigator read an accuser's statement?

An effective investigator will never read from the accuser's statement or show you the statement so that you can refute the accusations. The point of developing an investigative plan is to ask questions that elicit extemporaneous responses that aren't merely a response to the accuser's written statement.

What are the types of complaints against lawyers?

Common types of behavior that are subject of attorney complaints are: Attorney incompetence. The attorney does not have the knowledge and experience to handle your case. Failure to communicate. Clients expect to be kept informed about ...

What are the rules of practice for lawyers?

The rules of practice include fee issues as well as ethical standards.

What is attorney discipline?

The state board charged with attorney discipline accepts and investigates written complaints about lawyers licensed to practice or practicing in that state. Not every attorney complaint leads to disbarment. Rather, most state boards have a range of possible actions they can take against an offending attorney, including private or public reprimands, suspension for a set period, restitution of money stolen and disbarment. Further, if the board investigates a complaint and finds that the complaint was frivolous or otherwise did not have merit, there will be no record of it.

What are the rules of professional conduct?

The American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, contains best practices for lawyers and is often adapted in part by state regulators. Clients, as well as judges and other lawyers, can file complaints with the state's disciplinary board when they believe that an attorney has violated those standards.

Can you fire an attorney?

Behavior after being fired. Clients always have the right to fire an attorney, and the attorney cannot refuse to release the client's file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Conflicts of interest.